Page 9 - Mines and Minerals Reporter eMagazine - Volume December 2024

MINING GROWTH

wood extraction, industrialisation, agricultural expansion, have arisen in Odisha State as a result of the relocation, which
mining, and urbanisation, the world's forest cover has been has made the local population unhappy and jeopardised
undergoing substantial and unprecedented changes (Geist their livelihoods. Due to this, several indigenous people and
and Lambin, 2002; Reddy et al., 2013; Kim et al., 2014; Maus landless farmers have been forced to relocate to neighboring
et al., 2020). Mining is one of the main contributors to forest settlements in. Conflicts between the local population,
cover loss (FCL) in developing nations with tropical climates indigenous tribes, and mining have arisen in Odisha State as a
(Emiru et al., 2018; Thonfeld et al., 2020). Several factors, result of the relocation, which has made the local population
including mining operations, population pressure, migration unhappy and jeopardised their livelihoods. As a result, several
rates, unemployment rates, a lack of property rights, and landless farmers and indigenous people have been forced to
agricultural and infrastructural development, affect FCL in relocate to surrounding settlements in search of employment,
tropical regions (Seymour and Harris, 2019; Edwards and for instance, in the construction industry, mining, or refineries
Laurance, 2015). Given that this state on India's east coast (Patil et al., 2020). The remaining portion of the hamlet is not
is one of the wealthiest in terms of mineral reserves and in the coal region; hence its residents are not qualified for
contributes considerably to both the states and the country's long-term employment in the mines or refineries (Hota and
Gross Domestic Product, the significance of mining in Behera, 2015).
Odisha State is well recognised. The output of minerals and
the number of personnel engaged in mining operations are The paper is based on secondary data. To analyse the data
trending upward, according to recent production figures (Hota and enhance the case, the simple percentage and annual
and Behera, 2015; Ranjan, 2019). growth rate have been used. The paper attempts to analyse
the present growth of mining sector compared with past.
In the part of Odisha State that is rich in mineral resources, Additionally, it also tries to discuss different mining led
mining operations are substantial contributors to the destruction in local mining areas.
deterioration of the forest. The India, 2019), although it
has lately been harmed by the country's raising desire for DISCUSSION
expanded agriculture and greater mineral output. The study
is essential because of the proximity of mineral resources and
forest inhabitants in the 33.15 per cent of Odisha State's land No. of Annual growth of
that is covered in forest. The degradation of the forest due year employment employment(percent)
to mining has made the mineral-rich regions susceptible. This 2000-01 52937 -
is because extractive agencies have been established there
(Dutta et al., 2015). As a result of such mining activities, mineral 2001-02 45135 -14.73
resource-rich zones in this region have seen a significant shift 2002-03 44167 -2.14
in their forest cover. . Additionally, with 34.3 per cent of the 2003-04 43743 -0.95
nation's total mineral output in 2017–2018, this area occupies 2004-05 49837 13.93
a key position in the production of minerals (Government of 2005-06 55764 11.89
Odisha, 2020).
2006-07 47376 -15.04
In terms of mineral resources, Odisha State is one of the 2007-08 49176 3.79
richest states in India. Mines in this region are situated in rural 2008-09 44167 -10.18
regions where locals mostly make their living via agriculture 2009-10 43705 -1.04
and related work. Although mining in this area has a negative 2010-11 51877 18.69
impact on the ecosystem and forest cover, it can benefit the 2011-12 48263 -6.96
tribal inhabitants in Odisha State financially (Temper and 2012-13 59417 23.11
Martinez-Alier, 2013).
2013-14 47370 -20.27
Tribes in the area are now agitated and engaged in a protection 2014-15 47370 0
campaign as a result of the mining operations (Basu and 2015-16 49086 3.62
Nayak, 2011). The main coal reserves in the Indian state of 2016-17 52405 6.76
Odisha are found in densely wooded areas close to native
communities (CSE, 2008), and the mining exploitation has 2017-18 55,940 6.74
forced several people to leave their homes. Hota and Behera 2018-19 58,600 4.75
(2016) claim that during the 1970s, the mining industry has 2019-20 59,636 1.76
switched significantly from underground to open-pit mining,
which has resulted in this significant displacement. Conflicts CAGR 0.60
between the local population, indigenous tribes, and mining Table 1: Annual growth of employment in mining

DECEMBER 2024 / MINES & MINERALS REPORTER 7