Mining for coal, metals and other industrially and economically important minerals forms the core sector of a country's industrial empire. Like elsewhere in the world, mining industry has shown a rapid expansion in India too. According to the Mineral Year Book (1980 - 1986), the estimated values of mineral production since 1947 to the eighties went up by over 100 times. The growth of mining industry is also reflected in the economic value of production. The value of mineral production rose from 64 crores in 1947 to 1900 crores in 1992 - 1993. The share of metal mining sector is about 13% in the total output (Choudhuri, 1994).

The total area under mining in India is equivalent to 1/3 of that under agriculture (Mathur, 1978). Mining leases in India are spread over an area of 800,000 ha. (Soni et. al., 1992). In 1992 there were about 4,5052 working mines in India of which 2,854 were for mining of non metallic minerals, 720 for mining of metallic minerals and the remaining 478 for mining of coal and lignite (Ahmad, 1992).
 

• Wildlife Conservation Amidst Mineral Exploration in Indian Scenario
   

• Lignite Mining in Gujarat
   

• Proposed Lignite Mining Projects in Kutch
   

• Threats to Conservation Associated With Mining in Kutch
   

• Objective of The Eia Study