EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MINING TECHNOLOGY: A CASE OF SAND, SOIL AND GRAVEL MINING IN GAMBELLA TOWN, SOUTH WEST OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or others geological materials from the earth,usually from an ore body or placer deposit. Mining is often asources of local employment/income and may contribute to local and regional economies .mining are very important resource for the development of the country.This research gave an insight for local studies and investigations to understand how environmental impacts of mining technology of sand,soil and have influenced both environment and peoples of the town.Therefore,The main objective of the study was to investigates the environmental impacts of mining activities on environment in Gambella town , south west of Ethiopia. Both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods were carried out. Primary data were collected directly through questionnaires, observation and structured interviews like Focus group discussion (FGD) and Key informant interview (KII). When selecting the respondents from Gambella town’s kebels, Purpose sampling technique was used. Data were coded and entered before to analysis then for analysis of data that were gathered, descriptive data analysis had been used. Field measurements and observation data had been analyzed using the selected sampled points that had been analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft excel, while secondary data were collected through reviewing the literatures and Gambella mining and energy manual reports. Sample size for this study had been two hundred respondents which include keys informants and focus group discussion. The result of both qualitative and quantitative data that were gathered has been presented by tables, pie charts, graphs and which was generated through household questionnaires had been analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage. The finding indicates that Majority, 66% of the respondents reported to benefit from the sand mining activity and soil components by getting cheap sand for construction of theirs house. However, Finding had shown 92.5% of the respondents strongly agreed that they were negatively affected by the activity. The finding revealed that most peoples by 76.5% in the town are living near the mining areas, especially peoples inhabiting the Jibjiba River, pamur river and echucy baro river sites. Majority of the respondents, (94.5%) who had been participated in the study are aware of accidents. However, Results of the study noted that rivers those removals of rivers sand have led to widening and deepening of the rivers as negative impact by 48%. Soil components and gravel are excavated from open area that created uncovered pits that cause accidents to children and livestock 20% living near the mined areas. The dust and noise pollution from Sino-truck transporting sand and soil are pollution effects concerns of the villagers as Sino-truck are passing through the town. The study concluded that. The environmental change such as population, standard of living, and technology which affected the sustainability of mining on the environment is greatly happened in this particular town. At every season being summer or winter, mining activities have been done negatively rather than considering the negative environmental impacts they had brought to the environments, therefore environmental impacts that it left is a great damages to both communities of the town and the environments