Five day training programme on Environmental impact assessment for mining and mineral sector

A one-week training programme on Environmental Impact Assessment for Mining Sector was conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India. Total 34 participants participated in the training programme. Out of the 34, 8 candidates came from the Department of Mines and Geology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan.

Mr. Sujit Kumar Singh, Programme Manager, CSE, welcomed the guest to the training programme. During his introductory speech, Mr. Sujit highlighted the importance of this training for both, the mining officials as well as the environmental researchers. He also emphasized the need for capacity building, in order to develop better environmental management practices, for better compliance, and for carrying out thorough monitoring. This was followed by a brief presentation from him sensitizing the participants about CSE and its past work in India and abroad.

The programme facilitated experience sharing on environmental management in mines, mine legislation related to environment and other related topics on environmental impacts of mining. The programme covered topics like environmental and social issues associated with mining projects, environmental clearance process, mining and its impact on bio-diversity, laws and rules in mining related to environment, mineral exploration and its relevance in EIA, Air and water quality assessment, air pollution and emission factor, mine safety and its reference to open cast and underground mining, tools and techniques used for impact assessment, best practices in mine management (national & international), and benefit sharing (DMF). Apart from this, there were class exercises to give hands-on experience to the participants on – Filling of form 1 as appended eith the EIA notification of 2006, ToR preparation for mining projects, relevant data collection for EIA, preparation for environmental management plan (EMP) for mining projects, review of EIA and EMP report of mining project, and environmental clearance conditions.

The key resource faculties included internal speakers from CSE and some external faculties to share their industrial experience and best practices in the field of environment management.

At the end of the programme, all participants were asked to give their feedback on the training programme. Most of the participants said that the knowledge acquired from this training will be useful to them in their fieldwork, and will help them in compliance and monitoring.