Project type: Thesis, B.Arch
Guide: Prof. Anubhav Mittal (HOD: ASA, Jaipur)
 

Hypothesis: “Reclaiming, Rehabilitating, and Rejuvenating of abandoned coal mines can be instrumental in the holistic sustainable development of the site.”

 

Abstract:

Mining is a taxing process on land and has ecological implications of micro and macro levels and concludes with complete abandonment of the land after it’s exhaustion. It is imperative therefore to put the abandoned land to good use where it can serve a purpose. Chandrapur happens to be the capital of Coal Mines of India and quite a few of the mines are now abandoned because of exhaustion. As a result, there are unused parcels of land in the case of open-cast mines that are grounds for development and revenue generation. An ubiquitous objective of treating an abandoned mine also requires one to restore the ecological imbalance that resulted from mining during the period it was active. Redevelopment and renewing of such land calls for a holistic development approach that takes social intimacy, income generation, and environmental factors into conscious consideration. The paper presents a study on the reclamation, rehabilitation, and rejuvenation of abandoned coal mines using sustainable design principles for the mines of Chandrapur, Maharashtra. The study focuses on the use of various techniques, including phytoremediation (using plants to remove pollutants from the soil and water), soil stabilization, and revegetation of abandoned mines in a sustainable manner. The site context in question is a hot spot for tourist activities and frequents people from all over the country. Recreational activities would ensure an influx of revenue to the site and its neighborhood. The results of the study show that these techniques can be effective in restoring abandoned coal mines, and can lead to the long-term sustainability of the land. The study also discusses the potential social and economic benefits of rehabilitating abandoned mines using sustainable design, including the creation of new habitats for wildlife, the potential for the development of recreational areas, and putting the waste OverBurden & Tailings to be used as raw materials in construction material like Pavements, Bricks, and as a replacement for cement. All the results conclude that they can help achieve the holistic sustainable development of the site