Impact of Iron ore tailing on Environment

Kudremukh has the largest extent of bio-diversity rich shola-grassland ecosystems located in a hilly,
high rainfall region (6000-7000 mm yr-1) in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. The
Kudremukh National Park is a rich repository of biodiversity and has significant populations of many
endangered and globally significant flora and fauna including the Lion Tailed Macaque, Great
Hornbill and the tiger. In addition the Bhadra River and its tributaries are the habitat of several fish
and mollusc species besides the endangered otter.

Impacts of open-cast mining are very severe; the magnitudes of post-disturbance sediment levels
maybe orders of magnitude higher compared to other land-use changes such as deforestation,
agricultural intensification, roadbuilding and urbanization. Open-cast mining all over the world is
known to have devastating effects on downstream ecosystems, but the impacts in humid tropical
areas is particularly severe (Bird et al, 1984).

The available data on sediment loading from the 1980s, supplemented observations by
governmental agencies and the more recently initiated sediment sampling in August 2001 suggests
very strongly that:

1. The mining operations have already led to very high sediment discharges in the Bhadra River and
led to enhanced siltation of the Bhadra reservoir.

2. The mining operations continue to impact the water quality of the Bhadra River. The impacts of
KIOCL mining operations are event throughout the Bhadra basin and extend far beyond the
devastation within the Kudremukh National Park.

Karnataka Irrigation Department’s 1982 study, which pointed out 20 times higher silt loads,
subsequent rigorous studies by reputed hydrologists and geologists 1-4 conclusively confirmed
mitigate siltation of Bhadra River and the irrigation system, which sustained 100,000 hectares of
productive agriculture.

The source of water pollution is mainly from spent water from handling plants, pumping of mine
water, effluents from beneficiation plants, during dust suppressing, wash off from waste and tailing
dumps. The fines dumped in the hill portions during rainy seasons wash off from mining area and the
run off water is loaded with silt and suspended particles transported and deposited all along the
stream courses, tanks and reservoirs. The dissolved constituents in them pollute the surface and
ground water of the region. Due to disposal of mine dumps the surface drainages are blocked and
this results in decreasing the storage capacity of the adjoining area. Blocking of fines in drainage
areas reduce the yield from the wells and also ground water quality.

Mining in these areas results in changes in life style of the people. The health condition of the people
engaged in mining and inhabitants in the surrounding area are affected by health hazards. The
socioeconomic environment is undoubtedly improved as mining provides employment and
upliftment of economic profile of the region.