Describe the hazards of mining or describe the impact of mining on the health of the miners and the environment. What is the position of miners in India ?
(1) The hazards of mining or the impacts of mining on the health of the miners and the environment are given below : The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases. The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to miners. The water sources in the area get contaminated due to mining. It leads to degradation of soil and land due to dumping of waste and slurry. It increases pollution in stream and river. (2) The condition in coal mines in India are sometimes not satisfactory. Underground fires start mostly from burning trash close to coal pits. Over 50% of coal-belt mines are not safe in India. The companies which own mines do not meet the basic safety standards. The safety status of mines has been graded second and third degrees in the past. Lack of security measures in the coal mines leads to disasters. It has, in practice, become a ‘killer industry’ because many miners are killed every year due to explosions or other incidents in the mines.
