Environmental risk assessment in the lignite mining township in India

Lignite mining has often been associated with positive economic benefits; however, it may also result in negative impacts on the environment and human health. It is essential that communities understand the risks and benefits associated with mining, particularly in developing countries where there is often a lack of legislation governing the environmental performance of mining corporations. The perceptions of local people regarding the risks and benefits of mining may differ significantly. Examination of the complex social, economic, psychological, political, and cultural factors influencing risk perception in mining communities is thus important for successful risk communication and management.

Here the methodology what adopted is Delphi Method. In this situation a small monitor team designs a questionnaire which is sent to a larger respondent group. After the questionnaire is returned, the monitor team summarizes the results. Then SPSS 20.0, a statistical analysis software package was used to conduct univariate and bivariate analysis of the survey questions. This study conducted first hand empirical research into the perception of environmental and health risks in the communities surrounding the Neyveli Lignite Mine in Tamil Nadu. Concurrently, environmental samples were collected to assess the extent of environmental impacts at the study site. The results of this study may thus also serve as a preliminary step in the development of a more effective audience-tailored risk communication program.