Development of a Sustainable Development Framework for Mining Regions: A Case Study Approach

• Published in: Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Series D 2024-04, Vol.105 (1), p.489-502
• Main Authors: Shome, Sanniv Dipankar, Chakraborty, Surajit, Sinha, Suranjan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Engineering; Indigenous peoples; Mines; Mining; Original Contribution; Regulatory mechanisms (biology); Sustainable development
• ISSN: 2250-2122; 2250-2130
• DOI: 10.1007/s40033-023-00491-w

Mining sustainability problems are mostly site–site specific These problems stem from environmental, economic and social issues related to mining operations in the area. The people residing in the mine site face the brunt of these unresolved sustainability issues. In a mine site, problems of mine sustainable development are further compounded because mines are mostly located in the areas with site-specific environmental and social sensitivities. To resolve these issues inter alia participation of the indigenous people is essential. Keeping these issues in the view, there has been major changes in the Indian mine regulatory mechanism. As per recent amendments of the mining laws, a structured sustainable development framework approach is mandatory. The purpose of such a framework is to take decisions on the site-specific unresolved sustainability issues; this will be done by using the perception of stakeholders to prioritise sustainable development goals and scores of sustainable development indictors. There are several international agencies who modelled sustainability development, which holistically dealt with general sustainability issues and often losing site of specific issues of the particular mining region. In this paper, an unique case study approach is followed to develop a method for framing sustainable development framework which is tailor-made for not only Indian mines but also addresses the local problems of a mine site.