UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · Q17 · 15 marks · 250 words

Mineral resources are fundamental to the country’s economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard ? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.

हिन्दी में

खनिज संसाधन देश की अर्थव्यवस्था के लिए आधारभूत हैं तथा इनका खनन द्वारा शोषण होता है । खनन को पर्यावरणीय आपदा क्यों समझा जाता है ? खनन द्वारा पैदा होने वाली पर्यावरणीय आपदा को कम करने हेतु आवश्यक उपचारात्मक उपायों की व्याख्या कीजिए।

PollutionEnvironmental Governance

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What are the environmental and health impacts of metal mining pollution? Suggest measures to mitigate the same.”

VikasAIR 27 · CSE 2025 · 179 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Metal mining pollution refers to the pollution related to the mining processes eg. Jadugoda mining pollution.

Body · points

Environmental impacts →

  1. Air pollution through release of gases like coalbed Methane through coal mining.
  2. Soil pollution due to toxic metals release during mining.
  3. Water pollution due to mining. eg. Reasi river at danger due to lithium mining.
  4. Deforestation eg. Hasdeo forest & Hasdeo forest in Chattisgarh.

Health impacts →

  1. Exposure to toxic elements eg. Jadugoda deformities in people.
  2. Diseases like Blue baby syndrome due to intake of polluted water.
  3. Loss of life due to rat hole mining.
  4. Air pollution causes lung cancer due to deforestation.

Measures to mitigate it →

  1. Proper EIA and social Impact Assessment under EIA, 2020.
  2. Proper technological use instead of open land mining.
  3. Carbon capture & storage in abandoned mines.
  4. Use Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act for welfare of people.
  5. Sustainable mining with due care for all stakeholders. Mining shall be regulated & controlled to make it sustainable for people's health & environment.

Close · no separate close

None written.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper III, Q17. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.