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Environmental and social impacts of mining and their mitigation

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 National Seminar
ESIMM - 2016
September 20th 2016
Environmental and Social Impacts
of Mining and their Mitigation
Pradeep K. Singh and Raj S. Singh
CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research
Barwa Road, Dhanbad - 826015, Jharkhand
1. Background
Mining activity has existed since the beginning
of human society and minerals have contributed
to the development of human civilization since
the Stone Age. The mining industry impacts
directly on the macro-economy by improving
infrastructure, increasing employment,
developing rural communities and enabling
new spin-offs and downstream businesses.
The prospering economy of India is supported
with abundant reserves of several key
minerals and their small to large scale mining.
The mining sector in India contributed
approximately 2.3 percent to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in 2010, which declined from 3
percent in the year 2000 (FICCI, 2013).
Based on the volume of production, India ranked
4th amongst the mineral producer countries,
after China, United States and Russia (Report on
Mineral Production by International Organizing
Committee for the World Mining Congress).
India produces as many as 87 minerals, which
includes 4 fuel minerals, 10 metallic minerals,
17
47 non-metallic minerals, 3 atomic minerals
and 23 minor minerals (including building and
other materials). Coal being the single largest
fuel source for the generation of electricity
worldwide, fulfils about 63% of the electricity
demand in India (Tripathi et al., 2015). Even, the
future projections reveal the prospects of future
boost in Indian coal market. The country’s coal
production has increased from ~431 MT in 2006-
07 to ~554 MT* in 2011-12 (an increase of 28.5%)
(ICC, 2012).
Historically, mining was executed with the main
target towards the mining benefits and with
little consideration towards the environment,
local community or development (ISID, 2012).
Nevertheless, the coal and mineral extraction
has contributed the varying degrees of social
footprints via environmental degradation, human
health impacts, and social displacement, even
beyond the physical boundaries of individual
mining leases. Further, the in situ beneficiation
and long distance transportation of minerals
also significantly contribute to enhanced mining
footprint over a geographically large area. This
evinces that no mining can be entirely free of all
negative impacts and there is sufficient ground
to suggest that all-round performance of mining
sector from environmental and health perspectives
needs to be urgently and substantially improved
in the country (Singh and Tripathi, 2009; ERM,
2011).
In recent years, the environmental and social
impacts of mine operations in India have been
of great concern. The remedial and mitigation
measures are the responsibility of mine managers
and environmentalists. It is very important to
consider the social impacts of mining activities on
the surrounding socio-economic environment,
and affected individuals. CSIR-CIMFR has
undertaken several studies and environmental
management plans to address the environmental
and social impacts of mining in India. The present
paper highlights the general impacts of mining
operations on environmental and society and
their scientific remedial measures.
2. Identification of Major Impacts of
Mining
From the inception stage, it is the responsibility
of the operating mining to ensure that all the
relevant issues and impacts are identified.
Generally, the environmental and social impacts
are divided into waste management issues,
impacts to biodiversity and habitat, indirect
impacts, and poverty alleviation and wealth
distribution (https://www.elaw.org/files/mining-
18
eia-guidebook/Chapter1.pdf). The important
impacts to be considered may include (but are
not limited to) the following :
2.1 Environmental and Social Impacts :
Environmental impacts may be transient
(often acute, associated with accidental
discharges or explosions), temporary (only
during operational activities) or chronic
(long-term, arising from mineral extraction
and waste disposal).
Major environmental impacts arising from mining
activities include :
l Water accessibility and quality
l Air quality
l Land disturbance
l Waste generation
l Biodiversity loss
l Nuisance and disturbance
The social impacts are :
l Housing displacements
l Resettlement
l Employment
l Health and Safety
l Ecosystem services
l Socio political conflicts
Most of the social impacts are often the result
of the environmental impacts. However, there
are some synergistic and antagonistic factors
which control the social impacts. These factors
are summarised in Table 1.
Table 1 : Factors controlling social impacts of mining

Category Site-specific factor

Land Nature of surface/terrain
Ownership
Adjacent land uses
Other land use options, e.g., ecotourism
Water Sensitivity to erosion, leaching and contamination
Other uses of receiving water, e.g., drinking, washing, bathing, fishing
Air Wind speed and direction
Dispersal area and direction
Geology Overburden depth and height
Composition of overburden
Community Proximity to extraction site
Urbanisation of rural areas
Community involvement in mining operations
Presence of local pressure groups
Biodiversity Sensitive flora and fauna
Fragile ecosystems in nearby areas

2.1.1 Impacts of Mining on Soil Quality 2.1.2 Impacts on Water Resources

The mining operations cause serious impacts
on soil fertility by removing the topsoil and
soil contamination. According to a study
commissioned by the European Union: “Mining
operations routinely modify the surrounding
landscape by exposing previously undisturbed
earthen materials. Erosion of exposed soils,
extracted mineral ores, tailings, and fine material
in waste rock piles can result in substantial
sediment loading to surface waters and change
in drainage pattern. In addition, spills and leaks
of hazardous materials and the deposition of
contaminated windblown dust and water runoff
and leaching can lead to soil contamination”
(https://www.elaw.org/files/mining-eia-
guidebook/Chapter1.pdf).
The most critical impact of mining in most of
the cases is on water quality and availability of
water resources. The environmental impacts of
tailings and acid mine drainage are the serious
issues of concern. Acid mine drainage is one of
the most prevalent factors and serious threats
that affects the water through dissolved metals
and contaminant leaching. Nevertheless, in
other cases, leaching of toxic constituents, such
as arsenic, selenium, and heavy metals, can also
occur. Heap leaching and blasting operations
also lead to elevated levels of cyanide and
nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite)
in water resources (https://www.elaw.org/files/
mining-eia-guidebook/Chapter1.pdf).
The poor quality of water affected by mining
is not only unsuitable for human consumption,

19
but also has devastating effects on water bodies
(rivers, lakes) and aquatic life. The surface water
quality also negatively affects the terrestrial
wildlife.
In general, the impacts of contaminated water
are divided into following categories :
(i) Chemical : The impacts are due to altered
pH resulting into increased acidity or
alkalinity; increased dissolved metals and
the presence of synthetic compounds.
(ii) Physical : Physical impacts include the
increased concentration of suspended solids
causing turbidity, and adsorption of metal
compounds onto sediments and soils.
(iii) Biological : This impact is seen in the form
of species migration and death and also
acute chronic toxicity. Biological impacts
also affect ecosystem health that include :
l Disturbed soil, vegetation and fauna
l Contaminated and polluted water
l Contaminated and polluted air
(iv) Ecological : Ecological impacts include
habitat alteration, bioaccumulation of
metals in food chain, species extinction and
reduced primary productivity.
2.1.3 Impacts on Air Quality
Impacts of mining on air quality are observed
during each stage of the mine cycle, but the
mining operations like drilling, blasting, hauling,
collection, and transportation are the major
sources of airborne emissions and pollution.
During mining cycle, the ore extraction,
generation of solid waste and ore refining and
processing, create air pollution which have
Emissions
Mobile and stationary source. Pollutants are transported, diluted,
(Can be measured and controlled) undergo physical and chemical changes
Figure 1
cumulative environmental and public health
impacts.
Some waste disposal methods, such as conical
dumping by dragline result into conditions that
are susceptible to gully erosion and dump slope
failure (Tripathi et al., 2016 a). These result
into air and water pollution, reduced aesthetic
values, blockage of pit access and filling of
sump, and thereby problem of pumping leading
towards flooding of the working area during
rainy seasons.
The mine waste spoils dumped over the ground
contains small size of particles that are easily
dispersible by the wind. The major sources of
air pollution in mining operations are :
l Particulate Matter : This is a major pollutant
in and around opencast mine areas, which
is mostly dispersed by the wind during
excavations, blasting, material transport,
and also from tailings, waste dumps, and
haul roads. Particulate matter is a serious
threat to human health as it disperses easily
in the mine to several benches in mine
and gets accumulated at its different parts
(Gautam and Patra, 2015).
l Gas Emissions : These are mostly generated
during the combustion of fuels, explosions
and mineral processing.
The airborne pollutants enter the atmosphere
and undergo physical and chemical changes
before reaching a receptor (Figure 1) and cause
serious effects to people’s health and to the
environment.
Atmosphere Impacts
Environment (water, soil, wildlife)
Infrastructure, Global climate
20
2.1.4 Impacts as Disturbance : Noise
and Vibration
Noise pollution is one of the major impacts
of mining activities, particularly from blasting,
crushing, draglines, conveyors and process plants.
Blasting operations affect their surroundings in
the form of ground vibration, air blast, fumes
etc. The blast energy is transmitted to the
ground, creating vibration waves that propagate
through the various soil and rock strata to the
foundations of nearby buildings (ERM, 2013).
Vibration affects the stability of infrastructures,
buildings, and residences of people living in
and around the large-scale open-pit mining
operations. The domesticated animals and wild
fauna are also impacted. According to a study
commissioned by the European Union in 2000,
shocks and vibrations as a result of blasting
in connection with mining can lead to noise,
dust and collapse of structures in surrounding
inhabited areas (https://www.elaw.org/files/
mining-eia-guidebook/Chapter1.pdf).
2.1.5 Impacts of Mining Projects on
Wildlife fauna
Wildlife fauna includes the non-domesticated
animals (or other organisms). Mining heavily
impacts the wild fauna through the removal of
vegetation and topsoil, ecosystem destruction,
the release of pollutants, and the generation of
noise. The major losses are in the form of:
l Habitat Loss : Mining activities mainly
disturb, remove or redistribute the land
surface with some impacts being short-term
and some long-term. During the excavation
or mine spoil piling, the wild life species
along with the sedentary species such as
invertebrates, reptiles, burrowing rodents,
and small mammals are destructed or
displaced.
21
l Habitat fragmentation : Habitat
fragmentation is a serious ecological impact
that occurs due to breaking of a large land
area into smaller patches. It affects the
migratory routes of the wildlife by making
the dispersal of native species from one
patch to the other difficult or impossible. The
species requiring large forest patches mostly
disappear due to habitat fragmentation.
2.1.6 Impacts of Mining Projects on
Social Values
The major social impacts of mining could be
seen in the form of demographic change (e.g.,
size and composition of resident population),
economic change (new pattern of employment
and income), environmental change (land use
changes, loss of natural habitat and hydrological
regime), lifestyle and cultural impacts and health
impacts (UNEP, 2002). The major impacts which
affect the society are mainly the displacement
and resettlement.
Human Displacement and Resettlement
One of the most serious negative impacts of
mining is the physical displacement of thousands
of people for undertaking mining operations in
their residence areas. This is a big challenge for
human rights and poses enormous social risk.
As reported by Downig (2011), in India the
displacement due to mining accounted to over
2.55 million people between 1950 and 1990 due
to mining activities. The displacement which
forces entire communities to shift elsewhere is
not only limited to losing their homes, but also
their land, and livelihoods. The resettlement of
displaced communities is mostly in areas without
adequate resources and areas close to mining
operations full of pollution and contamination.
Forced resettlement can be particularly disastrous
for indigenous communities who have strong
cultural and spiritual ties to the lands and forest
of their ancestors and who may find it difficult
to survive when these are broken (Singh et al.,
2015). In Jharia Coalfields displacement is still a
serious issue for their appropriate rehabilitation.
In addition, the lack of adequate rehabilitation
and resettlement policies, the migrants remain
deprived of proper mechanisms to address their
basic requirements to improve their livelihoods.
The associated issues are access to clean drinking
water and health issues.
3. Mitigation and Remedial measures
of mining impacts
Key mitigation measures to protect and reduce
the socio-environmental impacts are described
below. The mitigation measure applied to one
component of environment affects the other
components, as these components are closely
linked with each other.
Protection of environmental quality with respect
of pure air, water and soil is important for
environmental sustainability. A reduced carbon
foot print initiative with plants could help
reducing the impacts of mining to environmental
components. Tripathi et al. (2011, 2014) studied
the role of revegetated mine spoils as a sink of
carbon dioxide which improves the aesthetic
environment and ecology.
3.1 Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a
tool applied primarily to prevent or minimise
the adverse effects, and maximise the positive
effects, of mining activities from the inception to
closure stage. This is basically linked to strategic
environmental assessment (SEA), integrating
policies and plans for impact assessment and
mitigation. The first EIA legislation was enacted
22
in the USA in 1969, which evolved as the
environmental and social impact assessment
(ESIA) from the mid ’70s to early ’80s, due to a
wider inclusion of both social and biophysical
issues for assessment.
Whilst the purpose of ESIA in mining is to
provide information for decision-making on
the environmental and social consequences of
mining activities, it also ensures sustainability
via the identification of appropriate mitigation
measures. Sustainability is most effectively
described by the Brundtland report (1987), as
‘development that meets the needs of today’s
generation without compromising those of
future generations’. Over the last few years,
the importance of sustainability has been
realised in India with public and government’s
intervention. However, the pace of success in
achieving sustainable mining targets is slow
due to several factors that constrain its wider
(FICCI, 2011). Some of these include the gaps
in current regulatory and institutional set-
up (e.g., land acquisition provisions, gap in
expertise on land acquisition and rehabilitation/
resettlement, clearance process and approvals
for sustainability in mining). The integration of
environmental and social sustainability concerns
into mining business, whilst ensuring the
responsible extraction of minerals is the main
challenge (SMI, 2015).
To ensure the sustainability in mining, ESIA can
play both short-term and long-term goals to
minimise the environmental and social impacts.
The key scopes of ESIA are :
l To identify appropriate measures to
mitigating the potential negative impacts of
mining, and
l To enhance the benefits via suitable policies
and regulations.
3.2 Soil Contamination Remediation
Mitigation for soil impacts includes the use of best
management practices during operational phases
and a reclamation plan for re-establishment of
viable soils and vegetation at closure.
To conserve the soil sustainably, top soil has to
be removed and kept separately for its use in
reclamation and revegetation.
In addition, the effective soil treatment
approaches depend upon better understanding
of the risks associated with metals in mine
wastes. Organic amendments and biofertiliser
accelerates the revegetation with native plant
species, biological and chemical stabilisation of
overburden dumps.

Case Studies by CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad

Rejuvenation of contaminated mine
wasteland, Bengal EMTA, West Bengal :
High oil yielding plant saplings of lemon grass
(Cymbopogon winterianus), Citronella and
khus grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) were planted
to remove heavy metals from soil, improve
structural and functional components of soil and
socio-economic development through aromatic
oil extraction. After the first and second harvests
of aromatic grasses, a remarkable decrease in
heavy metal concentrations (e.g. Cu, Cr, Cd,
Fe, Pb, Zn, Mn and Ni) of soil was observed.
On the other hand, the soil properties were
enhanced with respect to the microbial biomass
N-nitrification and N-mineralization rates after
first and second harvest. The grass species
were utilized for oil extraction at lab scale for
harnessing future scope for income generation
via pilot scale aromatic essential oil extraction
(Photo 1).
Contaminated coal mine soil along with vegetative
reclamation with aromatic grasss
The studies on Mandan dump of Eastern
Coalfields showed the potential of plant species
to adopt the phyto-toxic condition after limited
amelioration of soil, which helps in the succession
of annuals followed by perennial herbs, shrubs
and trees (Singh et al., 1996). Cropping of
aromatic grasses is an excellent tool for the
removal of heavy metals from the contaminated
mine wastelands. As a tolerant species to soil,
grass sp. can ameliorate polluted soil to allow
other, less hardy species, to get established.
Revegetation of mine wastelands using soil
amendments can reduce the bioavailability
of a wide range of contaminants, enhance
revegetation success, and protect against offsite
movement of contaminants by wind and water.
Recent studies have also shown that the
application of chitosan to contaminated soil can
remediate the heavy metal contamination and
reduce the bioavailability of metals to plants
(Tripathi et al., 2016).

23
3.3 Air Quality Improvement
For dust attenuation, role of native plant species
was studied and it was delineated that the broad
leaved native dry deciduous tree species such
as Albizzia lebbeck, Tectona grandis, Dalbergia
sissoo have great potential to reduce dust in
mining areas (Singh 2005). Chaulya et al (2002)
indicated that maximum dust is generated from
the haul road. Effective green belt development
has to be developed in different tiers for
preventing the dust out of core and buffer zone
of mine area. Alstonia scholaris and Tectona
grandis have been found to remove 21.50 and
12.34 g/m2 of dust from the mine area site of
BCCL (Singh and Tripathi, 2005).
Recent study of revegetated mine spoil indicated
that mine spoil acts as sink of carbon dioxide
offset rate by 9.4 Mg ha-1 yr-1 by carbon
sequestration from the atmosphere, after 19
years of revegetation (Tripathi et al 2014). It is a
substantial amount to clean the air environment
of mining areas.
CSIR-CIMFR has developed a technology for coal
mine haul road dust collecting system and its
conversion into fuel briquettes, which is already
being marketed with industries. The technology
is patented and sold to TATA Motors, Mumbai.
3.4 Water Quantity and Quality
Improvement
Mitigation measures to reduce the effects to
water include :
l Staged development of the tailings storage
facility so that the amount of water sent to
the processing plant is minimized.
l Return of disturbed areas to natural runoff
conditions as soon as possible.
Use of best management practices (BMPs)
for site clearing and construction to minimize
24
erosion and sedimentation is one of the best
tools for water impact reduction. These practices
will include diversion of runoff water away
from roads and disturbed areas and the use of
sedimentation ponds and silt fences.
The impacts on ground water resources can be
improved by following methods:
l Construction of terraces, contours and
peripheral bunds.
l Construction of Check dams.
l Rain water harvesting.
l Plantation with appropriate plant species.
l Coal mine water utilisation
CSIR-CIMFR has developed a technology for
treatment of mine water into portable water
at Putki Balihari Project of BCCL, where 4000
liters of mine water per day can be purified for
domestic use.
3.5 Noise and Vibration Control
Disturbance from noise could be alleviated
using vegetation as a biological tool. The
plants are good attenuators of noise both in
the mining areas. CSIR-CIMFR evaluated the
scientific control blasting technique to reduce
its impact on the environment in opencast
and underground mining activities of Jharia
coalfields of Dhanbad, India Several studies
have found that the vegetation also helped to
decipher the impacts of noise and vibrations in
mine operational areas.
3.6 Conservation of Biodiversity
Mitigation measures for habitat and biodiversity
impacts include minimizing the footprint,
translocation of native plant species to ecosystem
reconstruction sites, conservation of plant micro-
reserves and larger areas, and reclamation.
CIMFR conducted a study in and around iron
ore mining lease hold area comprising of core
and buffer zones of the Iron-ore mining project
in southern talukas of Kolhapur and Sindhudurg
districts of Maharashtra to identify the impact
of blasting and other mining activities on wild
elephant. An environmental management plan
for the reduction of human-elephant, human-
Tiger conflict have been put forth along with
conservation plan of wildlife corridor was
delineated (Singh et al., 2012) for Sindhudurg
Iron ores mines and Hindustan Copper Limited
mines.
3.7 Socio-economic Development
There is considerable complexity in managing
the socio-economic impacts of mining. Impacts,
mitigation measures and even benefits can result
in many interacting effects, both positive and
negative. Managing socio-economic impacts,
more so than other disciplines, involves
minimizing negative effects and enhancing
positive benefits. Rehabilitation plan of Jharia
Coalfields was also carried out by the CSIR-
CIMFR
CSIR-CIMFR has carried out the bioreclamtion of
mined out areas of 60 ha of land during 2003-
2005 in ECL and Tata Steel Mines of Jamadoma
and estimated the reclamation benefits through
plantations towards societal benefits in mining
areas. These included the employment generation
and average timber valuation of selected plants
in coalfield areas of Dhanbad. Reclamation of
mine wasteland can be one of the potential area
for employment generation, economic benefit of
the local society. These are given in Tables 2
and 3.

Table 2 : Employment generation during afforestation of 10 ha area

Cumulative
Item Man days Remarks
Man days
Ist year
1000 1000 Considering digging of 25 pits/man/day and
Pit digging
a total of 2500 pits/ha
500 1,500 Considering planting of 50 saplings/man/day
Plantation of sapling
and a total of 2500 plants /ha
260 1760 On an average 1 irrigation per week and 1
Irrigation
person/ha for approximately 6 months.
520 2280 On an average 1 maintenance per week and
Maintenance
1 person/ha
Guarding 365 2645 Considering one guard for the whole area
2nd year
Irrigation 130 2775 On an average 1 irrigation/week and 1
person/ha for 3 months.
Maintenance 260 3035 On an average 1 maintenance/week and 1
person ha/ha for 6 months.
Guarding 365 3,400 Considering one guard for the whole area.

25
 Cumulative
Item Man days Remarks
Man days
3rd Year
Irrigation 130 3530 On an average 1 irrigation/week and 1
person/ha for 3 months
Maintenance 130 3660 On an average 1 maintenance/week and 1
person/ha for 3 months.
Guarding 365 4025 Considering one gurard for the whole area.

Table 3 : Average timber valuation of selected plants (25 years old)

Volume Total Valuation/plant

SN Name of the Plant Rate (per CFT)
(in CFT) (INR)
1 Artocarpus heterophyllous 140 600 84,000/-
2 Delbergia sisoo 200 700 1,40,00/-
3 Gmelia arborea 160 700 1,10,00/-
4 Mangifera indica 130 500 65,00/-
5 Tectona grandis 100 1200 1,20,00/-

(Source : Forest Department Govt of Jharkhand, 2001)

Corporate Social Responsibility

Inclusion of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
in mining plan is a new concept that broadly
covers various related aspects such as triple
bottom line approach (economic, environmental
and social imperatives) of sustainability. CSR
plays a special role in mining because of the
inherent finiteness of the mineral resources and
the environmental and social impacts related to
mine closure (Warhurst and Noronha, 2000).
For mining, the CSR agenda is mainly aimed to
increase the need for individual companies to
justify their performance through the disclosure
of social and environmental information.
CSR activities focused on environmental and
social aspects; particularly in mining perspectives
ensure environmental sustainability, ecological
balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal
welfare, agro-forestry, conservation of natural
resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and
water (Singh et al., 2015).
CSIR-CIMFR has presently taken up the CSIR-800
project at Khudiatola of Ratanpur Pancyat, near
Kapasara mines of ECL, Govindpur block of
Dhanbad district for delineation and identification
of ground water status, conservation of natural
water resources and providing safe drinking
water. To enhance the quality of life we are
planting aromatic and medicinal plants. The
CSIR-CIMAP has estimated the economics of
the Cympbopogon citratus as Rs one lakh per
acre of land. The plantation of this grass can
fetch both employment generation as well as
economic improvement of area. The land use
map of the Govind pur block is given in Fig.1.

26
 Fig 1. : The landuse pattern of Govindpur block, Dhanbad selected under CSIR-800 Program.
4. Conclusions
Mining activities are the integral part of societal
development. However, the mitigation of mine
impacted environmental and social issues warrant
a corrective action supported by appropriate
post-closure management strategies. By
managing environmental impacts, the long-term
viability of mining operations can be secured,
which, in turn, addresses the social issues. It also
provides the opportunity to produce goods and
services in mining and at the same time ensures
a sustainable and healthier ecosystem services.
The strategic management and assessment of
social and environmental impacts also ensures
favour from the government and policy makers
for economic benefits to stakeholders.
27
In recent years, changes in management
techniques have efficiently minimised many
negative impacts. Mining companies are also
making efforts to reduce the environmental
and social impacts of mining and minimize
the footprint of their activities throughout the
mining cycle, including planning for post-closure
restoration. Mining industry can become more
environment friendly and socially sustainable
by integrating practices that reduce the
environmental impact of mining operations and
implementing corporate social responsibility.
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in Indian Dry Tropical Environment. Science
of the Total Environment, Elsevier, 468-469,
1162-1171.
UNEP (2002). EIA Training Resource Manual. Topic
13 Social Impact Assessment.
(http://unep.ch/etu/publications/eia_2ed/eia_e_
top13_body.pdf)
 Dr Pradeep K. Singh
Director, CSIR & Fuel Research, Dhanbad

Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh is Director of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research,
Dhanbad, has studied from Pre-University to Post Graduate levels at BHU, Varanasi, India
and Doctor of Engineering from the Technical University, Clausthal, Germany. He was
Post Doctoral Fellow at Lossande Institute of Geosciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
Dr Singh has notable contributions in Explosives Science and Blasting Technologies to solve
practical problems in the mining industry are well known. He authored a blast damage
index for underground openings in close vicinity of open-cast blasting operations and the
Mine Regulatory Authority in India (DGMS) issued a mandatory guideline on this.
Dr. Singh is recipient of several prestigious awards including National Mineral Award,
Raman Research Award, Fellow of German Academy, etc.
Dr. Singh published 114 papers in refereed International and National Journals/Symposia and
authored 3 books. Dr. Singh has 274 technical reports sponsored by different organizations
and 9 S&T reports funded by Ministry of Coal, Government of India.
Dr Singh is the Chairman of several International and national Committees including
Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, Spain; BIS Committee on solid Mineral Fuels Sectional
Committee (PCDC-7).
Dr Singh deputed for scientific pursuits to Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, France,
Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and USA.

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