Balancing Mining and Environment at Talaricheruvu Limestone Mine in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh

Talaricheruvu Limestone Mine serves as a captive raw material source to a cement plant. Located on a plateau landscape, 379 m above MSL, the Mining Lease area is underlain by Narji limestones of the Proterozoic Kurnool group (Cuddapall Supergroup). Mining is accomplished by the opencast, mechanized method of working, producing about one million tonnes of limestone per annum now. A case study of this mining project is presented to demonstrate how, through prudent environmental management implemented pari passu with mining, significant ecological and socioeconomic benefits (viz. drinking water for cattle, greening of the landscape, better communications etc) are brought about to the community.