Mr Chairperson, Excellencies and distinguished delegates,
I am grateful for giving me the floor.
Mining is a major contributor to the national GDP of many countries. It is
also a significant source of employment generation. India is no exception. The
total value of minerals produced by India during 2010-11 was around US$ 42
billion employing about 1.1 million people.
India recognizes that mining, unless properly regulated, can have adverse
environmental and social consequences. On the one hand, mining disturbs the
soil, water and ecological regimes and on the other hand, unless accompanied by
proactive measures to promote inclusiveness through social education, health and
other interventions, it can lead to alienation of the local population and assume
socially unacceptable dimensions.
Mr. Chairperson,
This brings me to four key issues related to the sustainability of
mining operations.
The first issue is transfer of technology to developing countries for
sustainable mining, zero waste or low waste mining and scientific
methodologies, including for mining equipments and mining related
software. Water quality and quantity is a major environmental issue here.
Further, there is urgency for making available the requisite knowledge to
the mining engineers in developing countries by the developed countries
and the Transnational Corporations.
The second issue is how do we plan for sustainable mining
operations? India has managed to evolve a fairly robust system of
environmental clearances as well as forest land diversion related
clearances. The real challenge lies in monitoring and enforcing the
conditions stipulated in these clearances. GIS/GPS based monitoring
mechanisms could prove to be useful and need to be encouraged through
greater flow of technology and resources to the developing world.
Mr. Chairperson,
The third key issue in terms of sustainable development in many
countries is Relief and Rehabilitation. The solutions are not as easy as they
seem and unless properly designed and implemented, can lead to problems
of internal security. India has come up with a comprehensive National
Relief & Rehabilitation Policy in the year 2007. To make it more
pronounced, there is a need for comprehensive assessment of social
impacts and displacement of mining projects at the household, community
and mining region level and management commitment to address those
impacts through mitigation measures and management plans.
The fourth issue is mine closure, which otherwise leads to land
degradation. India has approximately 0.7% of its land mass under mines.
Though the statutory provisions in India require restoration of land after
mining, mine closure remains a big challenge. The situation would not be
different in many other countries. There is a need for two pronged
approach to address this issue namely; one, establishment of an effective
regulatory body at the national level and two, ensuring observance of
Corporate Social Responsibility by the mining companies.
Mr Chairperson,
Any internationally agreed approach to mining has to be based on
Principle 2 of the Rio Declaration in which States have the sovereign right to
exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and
developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within
their jurisdiction do not cause damage to the environment of other States.
Further, greater integration of mining sector in the national economies, including
enhancing the participation of stakeholders has to be in accordance with the
national legislations, policies and priorities.
The challenge is to do mining scientifically, with minimum waste and
minimum degradation. The application of appropriate technologies, energy and
resource efficient strategies, waste management practices, are the need of the
hour. We hope that a mechanism is established whereby the developed countries
come forward for technical support to the developing countries and the
transnational corporations deploy such technologies in their countries of
operation.
Thank you Mr. Chairperson.
