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Impact of Bauxite Mining on Soil: A Case Study of Bauxite Mines at Udgiri, Dist-Kolhapur, Maharashtra State, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Environmental Science, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, MS, INDIA
  • 2Development Research, Awareness and Action Institute, Kolhapur, MS, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 4, Issue (2), Pages 77-83, February,22 (2015)

Abstract

Bauxite mining being an impermanent activity, at most times, leaves long term negative impact on the environment. The study area i.e. two bauxite mines at village Udgiri, Dist-Kolhapur, forms a part of globally acknowledged biodiversity rich Western Ghats which are now under tremendous pressure. The present study is an attempt to trace out the impacts of bauxite mining on soil. Soil analysis result revealed that soils at two mine sites at Udgiri were deficient in nutrients such as Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium, with deteriorated physical soil parameters namely field capacity and water holding capacity, as compared to the soils from the adjoining forest, agriculture and plateau grassland sites. Thus the bauxite mining activity is responsible for alteration in the basic physico-chemical properties and composition of the local micro and macro ecosystems, which is bound to have adverse environmental impact on biodiversity, soils and hydrology in the catchment of dams and adjoining areas as result of changed landuse.

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