UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 08th August 2025

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Issue of soapstone mining in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar

Why in News?

  • Unregulated soapstone mining in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar has triggered land subsidence, cracks, and landslides in a seismically vulnerable Himalayan zone.

Introduction

  • Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand has emerged as a significant site for soapstone and magnesite mining, but unregulated excavation has triggered ground deformation, land subsidence, rockslides, and cracks in habitations.
  • A state government-appointed expert committee has submitted a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), linking mining activities to heightened landslide risks in a seismically vulnerable region.

Geographical & Geological Context

  • Location – Bageshwar lies in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, within Seismic Zone V, indicating the highest earthquake risk.
  • Geological Setting – The region has steep slopes and fragile Himalayan lithology, making it highly susceptible to slope instability.
  • Mineral Profile
    • Soapstone (talc): A metamorphic rock mainly composed of talc, used for construction, sculptures, countertops, sinks, and industrial talc for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, ceramics.
    • Magnesite: Used in refractory material and magnesium production.
  • Distribution of Mines:
    • Bageshwar – 169 mines (soapstone & magnesite)
    • Pithoragarh – 28 mines
    • Chamoli – 8 mines (soapstone)
    • Uttarkashi – 1 mine (silica sand)
  • National Reserves – Rajasthan (57%) and Uttarakhand (25%) hold the largest reserves of soapstone in India (Indian Bureau of Mines).

Background to the Issue

  • January 10, 2024 – The Uttarakhand High Court banned mining in Bageshwar after reports of:
    • Cracks in houses
    • Drying water sources
    • Land subsidence in nearby villages
  • Committee Formation – Included experts from:
    • Geological Survey of India (GSI)
    • Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre
    • Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS)
  • Mandate
    • Conduct geological surveys of mines in Bageshwar, Kanda, and Dugnakuri tehsils.
    • Assess whether mining is within designated lease boundaries.
    • Recommend measures for a revised mining policy.

Key Findings of the Committee

Links to Geohazards

  • Landslides – Mining removal of slope material and overburden dumping has triggered retrogressive debris slides.
  • Ground Cracks – Linear cracks up to 50 meters long detected; risk of widening during monsoon or seismic activity.
  • Subsidence – Observed even 100 meters upslope from pits, indicating underground material movement.

Specific Incidents

  • Google Earth imagery showed:
    • No mine in August 2014.
    • Post-mining, landslide in March 2019.
    • Retrogression by February 2021 with downslope mine merging into landslide zone.

Slope Instability

  • Steep excavation without slope support.
  • Violation of bench height norms (bench height = vertical distance between two mine benches).
  • Dumping in water sources → Blockages, water contamination.

Hydrological Impact

  • Dumped overburden blocking surface drainage.
  • Groundwater depletion due to altered aquifers.
  • Risk of flash floods during cloudbursts due to blocked drainage.

Secondary Risks

  • Encroachment into agricultural and residential areas.
  • Potential pipeline breaches → water infiltration into subsidence zones → higher landslide risk.

Environmental & Socio-economic Implications

  • Ecosystem damage – Siltation of streams, loss of biodiversity.
  • Livelihood impact – Threat to agriculture and tourism.
  • Disaster vulnerability – Increased risk of landslides and floods in already fragile Himalayan terrain.
  • Public safety – Cracks in houses, displacement of communities.

Policy and Regulatory Gaps

  • Weak enforcement of mining lease boundaries.
  • Inadequate monitoring of bench heights and slope stability.
  • Absence of a centralized geo-referenced mining database.
  • Poor post-mining reclamation and slope rehabilitation.

Recommendations of the Committee

  • Sustainable Mining Practices
    • Limit excavation depth and steepness.
    • Strict adherence to bench height regulations.
  • Geo-referenced Database- Maintain precise mapping of mine lease boundaries for monitoring.
  • Slope Stability Analysis- Scientific determination of safe bench heights and slope angles.
  • On-site and Remote Monitoring- Combine physical inspections with satellite imagery and drone surveys.
  • Drainage and Water Management- Prevent dumping in drainage systems; create silt traps.
  • Policy Revision- Formulate stricter district-level mining policy integrating environmental safeguards.
  • Post-mining Rehabilitation- Stabilize slopes, restore vegetation, and prevent debris flow.

Way Forward

  • Given the Himalayan region’s fragile geology, unregulated mining in Bageshwar poses compounded risks due to:
    • Seismic susceptibility (Zone V)
    • High rainfall-induced landslides
    • Human settlement proximity
  • An integrated approach combining scientific mining, strong regulatory enforcement, community involvement, and disaster risk reduction is crucial.
  • A revised Uttarakhand Mining Policy should align with National Mineral Policy 2019 principles of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Introduction

Economic Implications

For Indian Exporters

  • These reforms reduce transaction costs and compliance hurdles
  • Encourage a more competitive and efficient export environment
  • Promote value addition in key sectors like leather

For Tamil Nadu

  • The reforms particularly benefit the state’s leather industry, a major contributor to employment and exports
  • Boost the marketability of GI-tagged E.I. leather, enhancing rural and traditional industries

For Trade Policy

  • These decisions indicate a shift from regulatory controls to policy facilitation

Reinforce the goals of Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s ambition to become a leading export power

Recently, BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, claimed that India has overtaken Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world, citing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

India’s rank as the world’s largest economy varies by measure—nominal GDP or purchasing power parity (PPP)—each with key implications for economic analysis.

Significance and Applications

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