Ayurveda Institute, in a rehabilitated quarry Faridabad

Abstract

Quarrying is a temporary activity, with duration of its operation usually lasting from several years to decades. Quarry closure plans are mostly mandatory for agencies to give before quarrying permit is granted, which shall justify that the site will not pose any form of threat to the health of its ecosystem or society in future. But such regulations are often sidelined, leaving massive chunks of lands with immense importance (physically and economically) damaged, vandalized and undesirable. Depending on the site, the quarry may be repurposed for other human interventions or restored to its pre-quarrying state following closure. The process of reclamation of quarrying lands includes various important factors which are way more complicated than it seems. Although, the primary purpose of a quarry reclamation is usually to reduce the impact to the local ecosystem once a quarry has shut down, today’s reclamation practices can contribute much more than just returning the site to its natural state. In fact, some of the closed mining sites are now reserved forests, farmlands and public parks etc. As the times are changing, in many countries, mining permits will not be granted unless a proper closure plan is attached with the financial security to support the proposal. This report highlights the strategy, options and benefits of reclaiming an abandoned crater and re-glorifying its importance in its microclimate. Hence the primary aim would remain to establish the most ideal strategies of a quarry restoration. Methodology to achieve this is by processing the need/ relevance of restoration, followed by the assessment of mine closure techniques. Thereafter, Mine impacts would be studied and relevant benefit schemes shall be established. This study shall determine the ecosystem approach needed to restore an urban scar.