Impact of Stone Quarrying on The Environment as Well as on the Lives of Indigenous People: A Case Study on Hatgachha Village of Mohammad Bazar Block of Birbhum District of West Bengal in India.

Abstract: Mining and quarrying have a direct impact on the environment. The extraction processes contaminate air and water with sulfur dioxide and other pollutants. The aim of the study is to assess the impacts of quarrying activities on the environment and livelihood of people. The study area, Hatgachha village, is located in Mohammad Bazar block of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India where a part of the Chhota Nagpur plateau is situated. Primary data was collected through questionnaires. Secondary data was collected from 2011 census. Most of the people of the village (76.43%) were schedule tribe. Literacy rate is low (48.84%). Quarrying activities in the study area were perceived to have both positive and negative impacts on the environment and the livelihood of people. The major environmental, socio economic and health problems related to quarrying revealed during this study include, dust pollution, noise pollution, land degradation, vibration, health hazards.