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Soapstone mining in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar is leading to ground deformations, cracks, land subsidence (sinking), and rockslides, a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal last week has flagged.
The report was prepared by a committee set up by the state government.
The Bageshwar region is located in seismic zone V — at the highest risk of earthquakes — and the activities are making it prone to landslides. The report highlighted that the steep excavation practices, lack of adequate slope support, dumping of material into water sources, and encroaching into agricultural and residential areas have compounded the risk.
In Bageshwar, there are 169 mines excavating soapstone and magnesite; in Pithoragarh, there are 28 mines for these two minerals; Chamoli has eight for soapstone; and there is one in Uttarkashi for silica sand.
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock made of talc, a naturally occurring mineral, and is used in construction and design for countertops, sinks, hearths, and sculptures. Talc is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. According to the Indian Bureau of Mines, the states of Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%) boast substantial reserves of soapstone in India.
The committee and observations
The report has been prepared by experts from Geological Survey of India, Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Center, and Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, among others.
On January 10, the Uttarakhand High Court had banned mining in Bageshwar after concerns were raised that houses had developed cracks and water resources were drying up due to land subsidence (sinking of land due to underground material movement) in some villages.
The committee, set up subsequently, was tasked with submitting a detailed geological scientific survey report, based on which, a revised and more stringent mining policy would be formulated.
It surveyed 61 soapstone mines in tehsils of Bageshwar, Kanda, and Dugnakuri. The committee was also to look into whether mining activities are being conducted within the designated lease boundaries.
The committee’s findings link the mining activities to landslides, ground cracks, and sinkholes. At one of the mines, a landslide scar had developed within the mine dump.
The committee has noted retrogressive debris slides around the mine’s perimeter, which has been attributed to the removal of material for mining. At another mine, 50-meter-long linear ground cracks have been identified, the figures with satellite imagery show.
The report said the erosion will undercut the slopes, increasing the vulnerability of the surrounding areas to landslides.
Regarding subsidence in the area, the report warned that it could further expand, and as the excavated material is being dumped downhill, it could result in the blockage of streams on lower slopes. At another mine, subsidence was assessed to have posed an immediate danger to the pipeline, as any breach could lead to water infiltration into the subsidence zone, making it extremely prone to landslides, the report said.
The impacts of mine pits have also been observed away from the pits. Subsidence was seen about 100 meters up slope, some distance away from a mine.
The report attaches Google Earth imagery showing a mine that did not exist in August 2014. However, after the mining activities began, it triggered a landslide in March 2019. By February 2021, the imagery shows the landslide had retrogressed, causing the overburden material to flow along the landslide zone and merge with the downslope mine.
The activities were also observed to potentially deplete groundwater levels. The committee observed that the unplanned dumping of overburden material from the mine into the surface drainage system is causing blockages and affecting water quality. In the event of a cloudburst, the blocked drainage system may exacerbate flooding risks, and lead to severe damage to downslope areas.
The mining operations were found to have violated prescribed bench heights and even the reclamation efforts being made might not prevent slope instability and debris flow, the report said. Bench height is the vertical distance between two adjacent benches or platforms within the mining pit.
Recommendations
Apart from sustainable mining practices, the committee has recommended a geo-referenced database of the lease boundaries for each mine to assess risks related to mining in the district. A slope stability analysis was also recommended to determine the appropriate bench height for safe mining and regular on-site monitoring along with slope monitoring.
