1) The document analyzes the impact of mining on surface and groundwater in Chimakurthi mandal of Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, India over the period of 1999-2010. 2) It finds that rainfall in the area has been declining since 2002 with average rainfall of 64.37mm and high variability. Groundwater levels have decreased by up to 8 meters despite occasional high rainfall. 3) Mining activity increased significantly from 2006 onward. Despite some rainfall, the granitic aquifer system is not able to adequately recharge due to its fine-grained crystalline structure with low porosity. 4) Drainage patterns have changed, affecting irrigation, drinking water and

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
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ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print)
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Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130
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IJCIET
©IAEME
STUDIES ON IMPACT OF MINING ON SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER
1G. Sreenivasa Rao, 2Dr. A. Manjunath, 3Dr. MVSS Giridhar
1, 2Dept. of Civil Engg. MVSR Engg. College, Hyderabad
3Center for Water Resources, IST, JNTU, Hyderabad
ABSTRACT
There is an appreciable and adagio impact of mining on surface and groundwater. Rapid
development of mining throughout the world with the galloping advances in science and technology
is changing the shape of our planet and also hydrological region at micro level. World top quality
galaxy granite (Gabbro) occurs in Chimakurthi mandal of Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
From the analysis of data pertaining to mining, rainfall and groundwater levels (1999-2010), it is
observed that, the rainfall in the mandal shows declining trend over the successive years and more
prominent since 2002 onwards. There is no noticeable effect of rainfall on groundwater recharge,
because of poor aquifer system.
INTRODUCTION
Mining refers to obtaining valuable minerals and rocks from the ground. Mining boosts both
the local economy of the area where the actual mining is taking place and countries economy as well;
it creates primary and secondary employment and also earns foreign exchange.
The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of
biodiversity, and contamination of soil, ground water and surface water by chemicals from mining
process. Besides creating environmental damage, modify the existing drainage pattern and also
causes the environmental hazards.

2. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
126
STUDY AREA
Table - 1
Sl.
No
Month 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rain
fall
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rain
fall
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rain
fall
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rain
fall
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rain
fall
(mm)
1 June 12.17 128.0 12.43 29.0 11.79 51.3 15.05 88.1 14.91 24.2
2 July 10.27 142.4 13.49 36.7 12.49 45.4 13.79 112.7 15.02 91.00
3 August 6.28 332.6 11.89 85.1 10.77 90.5 13.38 75.2 15.63 22.5
4 September 6.75 68.7 10.99 157.8 11.56 52.3 13.57 132.8 13.97 171.2
5 October 6.77 83.6 6.79 259.5 10.44 217.4 10.03 160.5 13.20 136.1
6 November 6.64 45.7 5.89 90.0 9.87 56.2 10.19 14.7 12.76 47.6
7 December 7.22 17.0 6.78 11.5 10.72 0.0 11.44 26.6 14.00 0.0
8 January 8.49 5.3 7.77 38.5 11.98 3.6 12.44 5.4 14.72 0.2
9 February 9.46 0.0 8.47 0.0 12.94 0.0 13.12 0.0 15.84 4.4
10 March 10.11 1.4 9.62 1.9 13.62 21.1 14.70 6.2 16.52 3.4
11 April 10.33 49.0 10.45 2.8 13.75 3.4 15.21 11.8 17.30 3.6
12 May 10.13 6.9 9.85 21.8 15.15 1.0 13.91 118.7 17.57 41.2

3. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
Table - 1(Continue..)
Month 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Rainf
all
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
1 June 17.7 13.8 8.7 79.4 11.1 263.6 9.8 28.1 12.0 40.5
2 July 16.5 103.9 9.2 27.7 8.3 72.5 9.9 87.8 12.4 19.6
3 August 16.6 58.2 9.7 39.2 7.8 135.8 9.8 103.3 13.1 113.3
4 September 14.2 162.6 9.6 128.1 7.2 127.2 10.1 69.5 12.7 108.0
5 October 9.0 431.6 9.9 201.3 7.3 167.6 10.1 119.0 10.8 45.0
6 November 6.4 47.8 7.5 154.2 6.2 43.7 9.7 292.8 8.3 210.7
7 December 6.6 6.1 8.0 9.7 7.0 0.4 6.2 5.5 8.1 16.5
8 January 7.2 0 9.0 0 7.9 0.0 6.8 1.0 9 4.1
9 February 7.9 0 10 7 8.1 87.7 8.3 0.0 10.2 1.8
10 March 8.2 66.6 11 0 7.7 99.7 9.3 2.4 10.7 1.6
11 April 8.0 74.2 11.5 17.6 8.2 4.0 10.4 5.2 11.8 9.5
12 May 8.5 43.5 12 45.6 8.7 19.2 11.4 47.6 11.8 196.7
127
Rainf
all
(mm)
Ground Water Level
(mts)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rainf
all
(mm)
Rain fall
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Rainf
all
(mm)
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Average 10.69575 64.37083333
Standard Deviation 0.261629509 48.57823587
Correlation -0.67885
Ground
Water
Level
(mts)
Correlation between mining and rainfall = + 0.1554
Correlation between mining and Avg Ground Water Table = - 0.3457
Correlation between Rainfall and Avg Ground Water Table = -0.6788
Rainf
all
(mm)
Chimakurthi mandal is one of the important mandal in Prakasam district which is located in
Sl.
No
East side of the district, where world top quality galaxy granite (gabbro) is available. Gabbro is an
igneous rock belonging to younger intrusive (proterozoic age). Chimakurthi igneous body is in
crescent shaped hill range with Southern convexity at its centre and two protruding arms on either
side. The mining belt of Chimakurthi black Galaxy Granite (Gabbro) is confined to the Southern
plains, which reach a low altitude of around 60 meters near the Ongole – Podili State highway. The
area in general witnesses to a topographic relief of around 570 meters. The water course in the area is
ephemeral in nature. The streams originating on the Eastern flanks of Chimakurthi hill range drain
into big tank called Peddacheruvu.
The streams originating on the South Western flanks join into Musi River. The streams
originating on the Northern Concave portion joins the Dornapu vagu. The Nagarjuna Sagar Jawahar
Canal passes through the valley between the Ervakonda and the Sarivi Konda hill range and crosses
the Chimankurthi black Granite belt.

4. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
128
From ground water point of view all the wells, borewells, dugcum borewells approximate
yields are 15m3/hr, permeability of the rock is around 0.5 – 25, specific yield 0.005 - 0.40. Hence,
well yields are moderate.
METHODOLOGY
Galaxy granite (Gabbro) mining data collected from the district mines and geology
department from 1999 – 2010 and were analyzed, rainfall data collected from District Chief Planning
Officer and ground water table data collected from the State Ground Water Board and were analyzed
by using statistical methods. Drainage system are also studied by using Survey of India topo sheet
no.57M/14 , on 1:50,000 scale, which is surveyed in 1970-73, and compared with recent google map
with same scale and also find out the correlation coefficient. Correlation is to estimate the values of
one factor by reference to the values of an associated factor, it also discover and measuring the
relationship.
Rainfall data is as follows:
Table-2
Year Rainfall in mm Mining in
Cum
Avg.GWT
in metres
2000-01 880.6 52993 8.718
2001-02 734.6 719125 9.535
2002-03 542.2 86223 12.090
2003-04 752.7 203638 13.069
2004-05 545.4 194193 15.120
2005-06 1008.3 223634 10.567
2006-07 709.8 258716 9.675
2007-08 1021.4 407511 7.958
2008-09 762.2 344009 9.317
2009-10 767.3 342415 10.908

5. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
129
Intergrated Graph of Mining, Ground Water table and Rainfall

6. ANALYSIS OF DATA
From Table 1 maximum rainfall receives in October month (i.e., 431mm) minimum rainfall is
zero in the month of February. Average rainfall is 64.37mm. Study area receives more than average
in 5 months and in 7 months less than average which indicates no good rainfall.
Average depth of water table is 10mtrs. The maximum depth is more than 15mtrs in the
months of March, April and May months.
RESULT AND CONCLUSIONS
From the analysis of rainfall data it is observed that the study area receives good rainfall
during the southwest monsoons, it is an erratic rainfall.
The average rainfall is 64.371 mm, most of the years rainfall is less than average. Standard
deviation of the rainfall is 48.578; there is a lot of deviation in rainfall (approximately 50%).

7. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 5, Issue 6, June (2014), pp. 125-130 © IAEME
130
By the analysis of monthly rainfall and ground water levels from year 1999 to 2010, the
levels of ground water are not affected in the area.
From drainage map it is observed that drainage system is Dendroitic, first order streams are
54 in number with length of 137.143 Kms it is in the year 1970-73, in the year 2014, and first
order streams are 46 numbers with a length of less than 100 Kms which is clearly indicated
that mining impact on stream flows in study area.
Ground water table decreased rapidly during 1999 to 2000, which is around 2m.
Mining activity in the area increased hugely from year 2006 especially in granite quarrying
(537138 m³ to 3626372 m³) by 3089234 m³ because of mining ground water table from year
2005 decreased by 8m even though good amount of rainfall because aquifer system is galaxy
granite which is not a good aquifer because fine grain, crystalline, compacted rock with less
than 1 % of water absorption poor porosity.
Correlation between mining and rainfall is a positive, mining vs groundwater table and
rainfall vs average groundwater table is a negative which is clearly indicate there is no
relation which means the aquifer system (gabbro) is not respond according to rainfalls.
It is also observed that drainage pattern also change which is affected till irrigation, drinking
water sources and soil fertility.
REFERENCES
[1] Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Water Resources Government of India).
[2] Karmakar Das – Impact of Mining on Ground and Surface waters.
[3] Agarwal A.K.: Water in mines – some concept developed at CMPDI, Mine Tech Vol.9 No.2.
[4] Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited (APMDC)
http://www.apmdc.ap.gov.in/.
[5] Directorate of Mines and Geology.
[6] India Meteorological Department: http://www.imd.gov.in/.
[7] Indian granite industry: an overview minerals metals review by Rayudu G.K., Patel, J.N.
and Bedekar,R.N., June 1998.
[8] Minerals and metals review, GSI, June 1998.
[9] Survey of India: http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/.
[10] Geo-environmental appraisal of granite mining around Chimakurthi, Prakasam district, A.P.
unpublished report of geological Survey of India. For the FS 1993-94, Southern Region,
Hyderabad – Sarma, K.V.S.
[11] Granite conservation and development rules 1999.Govt of India, Ministry of Steel Mines.
[12] Web Resource: Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimakurthi,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakasam district.
[13] R. S. Sapkal and Dr. S. S. Valunjkar, “Development and Sensitivity Analysis of Water
Quality Index for Evaluation of Surface Water for Drinking Purpose”, International Journal
of Civil Engineering Technology (IJCIET), Volume 4, Issue 4, 2013, pp. 119 - 134,
ISSN Print: 0976 – 6308, ISSN Online: 0976 – 6316.
[14] Neeraj D. Sharma and Dr. J. N. Patel, “Experimental Study of Groundwater Quality
Improvement by Recharging with Rainwater”, International Journal of Civil Engineering
Technology (IJCIET), Volume 2, Issue 1, 2011, pp. 10 - 16, ISSN Print: 0976 – 6308,
ISSN Online: 0976 – 6316.