Environmental and Waste Management in Some Mining Operations in Orissa

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a survey on environmental parameters, viz. solids and liquids collected from five different mines in Orissa. These mines are (i) Dolomite Quarry, or Gomardih (Tisco) (ii) Fireclay Mines, Talabasta (Grind)(iii) Iron Ore Mines, Joribahal (Patnaik Minerals Pvt.Ltd.) (iv) Limestone Quarry,Lanjiherna (O CL) and (v) Graphite Mines, Patnagarh (T. Pradhan). The solid samples consisted of (a) top more often the undisturbed soil near the mine, (b) the overburdenlwastelspoilt dump, (c) soil from nearby paddyfield, (d) plantation area and (e) garden. These are analysed for agricultural parameters .such aspll, organic carbon content, available phosphate and potassium, heavy metals such as copper, lead, zinc, chromium etc. and bacterial count. The liquid sample consisted of water and effluent collected from (i) mine pit/flow both active and abandoned, (ii) mine discharge, (iii) mineral spring, (iv) accumulated water in mines, (v) piped water in mine office and residential colony and (vi) dug well used by mine workers. These samples were analysed for heavy metals similar to solid samples, physical parameters such as total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and the bacterial count. The analysed results were compared with the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and recommendations on pollution control measures and strategy by other means are made for better environmental management.