Project

Areawide environmental quality management (AEQM) plan for the mining belt of Goa
for Directorate of Planning and Statistics, Government of Goa

Summary
Image gallery

Summary

The objective of this study was to prepare an AEQM (area-wide environmental quality management) plan for the mining belt of Goa. The study assessed the impacts of mining and other related activities on the environmental quality of the area and structured a set of management strategies to prevent further degradation and improve the environmental quality.

The study area covered approximately 520 km² and was divided into 4 clusters for purposes of this study.

Primary data were collected from a survey of households in the mining belt and mining companies. This was supplemented with interviews and discussions with key persons from the village, government, and mining companies. Data on mining, land use, population, water, air, soil quality, etc were collected from secondary sources. Data on land use and land cover change over time period of ten years were obtained from aerial photographs and satellite imageries. The data were then analyzed to assess impacts. The future of mining in Goa from a societal and resource viewpoint is discussed through projections made of iron ore mining activities for the period 1997-2012, and through a survey of village voices on future mining. Four management strategies were suggested to improve environmental quality and social conditions in the region.

MS-I included planned improvements and additional control measures relating to dust generation; mine pit water; dump management; recycling of beneficiation plant(BP); water workshop effluents; restoration of land
MS-II targeted fugitive dust reduction on roads and alternate roads for ore transport
MS-III included social welfare measures for mining villages to enhance the quality of life in the mining area.
MS-IV This is a combination Strategy incorporating elements from all three strategies and plans for closure from the outset.

This report is available as a priced publication from the Government of Goa.

Image gallery

Steep dump slope - major cause for silt runoff

Unmanaged dump with rills and gullies formed due to rainfall

Silt deposition in agricultural fields

Wide and deep cracks in agricultural field 

Ore loaded uncovered trucks: major source of dust pollution