Environmental Impacts of Sandstone Quarrying and Its Waste: A Case Study of Jodhpur, India

Abstract

Google Earth provides high resolution satellite images over a long period of time which can be used in various environmental and climate studies. In the present study, Google Earth was used to evaluate incremental trends in the quarrying area and associated environmental impacts. Keru region near Jodhpur city, India was selected as the study area for the present study. Time series analysis was done from 1990 to 2016 to evaluate increments in the quarrying area. After 2007, recently built stone cutting units and dumping locations were also observed. Land degradation around the quarrying zone was also quantified from 2007 to 2016 using Google Earth imagery. After time series analysis, extensive site survey was also done to check and verify different quarrying and dumping practices in the study area and their effect on the environment. The results of the time series analysis show 4.55 times increment in study area from 1990 to 2016, with a linear relationship between increment in study area along with emergence of new cutting units and waste dumping sites. Since 2007, about 71.4 hectare of agricultural land was destroyed due to quarrying activities out of which 24.3% of the land is now assimilated in sandstone quarries. Results of the site survey show that major reasons for onsite and nearby environmental degradation were use of improper machinery and vehicles; haphazard and unsystematic quarrying over a long period of time; and dumping of quarry waste.