EXPLOITATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT

• Minerals and metals are important for the economic development and welfare of our society and state.

• The exploration, extraction and exploitation of minerals directly infringes upon and affects the other natural resources like land, water, air, flora and fauna which are to be conserved and optimally utilised in a sustainable manner.

• The removal of earth incidental to minerals exploitation has gone up in the recent years. Man made mountains are seen around mining belts, symbolising reckless mining practices and degradation of aesthetic value of the area. The land and precious soils have depleted at a fast rate creating very severe scarcity of drinking water and an increase in ambient temperature.

• The imperatives of economic development need to be harmonised with protection of environment and forestry.

• Mining and ecological preservation are not mutually exclusive propositions but have to be done in consonance with each other.