Mineral resources, exploration, their uses and environmental impact of mining and related topics is a part of their curriculum at Undergradute and Post graduate level in the deaprtment. To understand and have in depth knowledge of these topics, field visits to mining sites is helpful for the students.
Keeping in view the above facts, a visit to Rampura Agucha, a mining site of Hindustan Zinc limited (Vedanta Group), Bhilwara distt., Rajasthan was organized by Environmental Science department on 27 January, 2018. A group of 17 PG students with two faculty members visited the site.
The visit started with a presentation, given by the organization on the general process of mining, various processing units and Environmental management plan adopted by the organization. Thereafter, the students visited open cast mining area and tailings disposal site to understand the process in detail. A brief explanation on pollution on various environmental components due to mining and its mitigation measures was also given by the environmental consultant of the organization. Further, students also got a chance to visit underground mining site area which was 950 m deep,which was a lifetime experience for the group.
The visit proved to be a great learning experience for the students as they got information on various minute facts of Mining process and their impacts on environmental components.