Planning of Sustainable Regeneration in mining areas using tri-sector partnerships
Abstract
Minerals development, while increasing employment and incomes in mining and related activity, does create serious environmental damage and can undermine other socioeconomic development opportunities of local communities. The attempts to redress these impacts have so far been piecemeal and ad hoc with little research or consultation with the groups that are supposed to benefit from these actions. The net result has been a growing disaffection amongst the community. The disaffection and the breakdown of trust in mining regions that is observed is not just linked to company actions, but also to government non-actions. This project attempted to correct this narrow approach through adopting a multi-dimensional approach that integrates a number of activities that range from the technical, to the social, to training and capacity building. The study area falls within the iron ore mining belt of Goa and covers an area of about 11,000 ha. There are 17 villages in the study area and the population is estimated at about 40,000 of which 40% are dependent on mining and 25% on agriculture. The current situation in the area is one were a number of mines are abandoned or closing down, while others are still active. As a result there is an opportunity to start rehabilitation work, which will not only arrest environmental degradation, but also increase the productive capacity of land and the people in the region and enable planning for a time of closure.
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