ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO – ECONOMICAL IMPACTS DUE TO MINE CLOSURE

Abstract

Mining activities stimulate environmental and socioeconomic impacts on the local and mining communities right from its commencement and continues throughout the life cycle of the mine. The communities in the neighbourhood of mining gradually adopt a typical life-style that is highly influenced by the mining. The impacts exaggerate once the mining activities ceases. Mine closures can result in major adverse socio-economic impacts on local and mining communities, in turn affecting their overall quality of life. Thus, it is essential to predict the socio economic impacts of mine closure on local and mining communities. This paper makes an attempt to develop a conceptual model for post closure quality of life to assess the socio-economic impacts of mine closure on local and mining communities.