2.4 Positive impacts of sand mining and gravel extraction worldwide
Sand and gravel had been a useful natural resource for thousands of years worldwide and are fundamental to human existence. Today, demand for sand and gravel has increased. Mining operators in conjunction with resource agencies need to work hard and make sure the extraction is done responsibly. Schaetzl (1990) discussed sand and gravel as crucial resources to economic development activities when making aggregate in United States of America. Development is a process of adding improvements to a piece of land, such as grading, drainage and access roads. Schaetzl defined aggregate as a substance made from several materials such as river sand and gravel. Pit sand is mixed with …show more content…
Lawal (2011) indicated that Nigerians also benefit a lot of sand and gravel mining, which results in a building of quality permanent structures from aggregates. The demand for the resources increased in most Nigerian States in the 1990s, when individuals were getting schemes for home ownership, such as an increase in salaries and house loans which were easily accessible. Every citizen could afford to build a better house. This led to better socioeconomic life for rural people. In Kenya, soil mining had led to the development of better infrastructure (Mwangi, 2007). This was supported by Mbaiwa (2008) as a positive impact of sand mining in Botswana, where more land had been used to develop infrastructure in the form of shopping malls and residential areas. Zimbabwe is not an exception in benefiting from sand and gravel through infrastructural development (Lupande, …show more content…
Lawal (2011) noted that by the year 2001 alone, a total of seven thousand, one hundred and thirty one sand and gravel miners had been employed in Nigeria’s Niger State alone, according to statistics provided by Mine Safety and Health Administration. Mwangi (2007) supported this positive impact of soil mining in Kenya when he highlighted that there is a creation of employment to locals above eighteen years as manual loaders at mining sites. In Botswana, Mbaiwa (2008) realised the same impact of employment creation of youth, both citizens and noncitizens seasonally at mining and construction sites to load tipper trucks. While in Zimbabwe, Lupande (2012) noted the creation of employment for youth who are licensed to mine sand and some to load the trucks as a positive impact of mining. Mining activities brought wealth to Indian communities (Saviour, 2012). Sand and gravel activities generate revenue and income to local governments and landowners in Africa’s developing nations which reduce poverty. This was noted by Lawal (2011) in Niger State of Nigeria, where financial benefits from mining work shows that local government earn about eight percent of total profits from business while the miner gets about ninety two percent of accrued revenue. Kenyan local government also benefits from soil mining as highlighted by Mwangi (2007), when legal miners are to pay for the
Sand and gravel had been a useful natural resource for thousands of years worldwide and are fundamental to human existence. Today, demand for sand and gravel has increased. Mining operators in conjunction with resource agencies need to work hard and make sure the extraction is done responsibly. Schaetzl (1990) discussed sand and gravel as crucial resources to economic development activities when making aggregate in United States of America. Development is a process of adding improvements to a piece of land, such as grading, drainage and access roads. Schaetzl defined aggregate as a substance made from several materials such as river sand and gravel. Pit sand is mixed with …show more content…
Lawal (2011) indicated that Nigerians also benefit a lot of sand and gravel mining, which results in a building of quality permanent structures from aggregates. The demand for the resources increased in most Nigerian States in the 1990s, when individuals were getting schemes for home ownership, such as an increase in salaries and house loans which were easily accessible. Every citizen could afford to build a better house. This led to better socioeconomic life for rural people. In Kenya, soil mining had led to the development of better infrastructure (Mwangi, 2007). This was supported by Mbaiwa (2008) as a positive impact of sand mining in Botswana, where more land had been used to develop infrastructure in the form of shopping malls and residential areas. Zimbabwe is not an exception in benefiting from sand and gravel through infrastructural development (Lupande, …show more content…
Lawal (2011) noted that by the year 2001 alone, a total of seven thousand, one hundred and thirty one sand and gravel miners had been employed in Nigeria’s Niger State alone, according to statistics provided by Mine Safety and Health Administration. Mwangi (2007) supported this positive impact of soil mining in Kenya when he highlighted that there is a creation of employment to locals above eighteen years as manual loaders at mining sites. In Botswana, Mbaiwa (2008) realised the same impact of employment creation of youth, both citizens and noncitizens seasonally at mining and construction sites to load tipper trucks. While in Zimbabwe, Lupande (2012) noted the creation of employment for youth who are licensed to mine sand and some to load the trucks as a positive impact of mining. Mining activities brought wealth to Indian communities (Saviour, 2012). Sand and gravel activities generate revenue and income to local governments and landowners in Africa’s developing nations which reduce poverty. This was noted by Lawal (2011) in Niger State of Nigeria, where financial benefits from mining work shows that local government earn about eight percent of total profits from business while the miner gets about ninety two percent of accrued revenue. Kenyan local government also benefits from soil mining as highlighted by Mwangi (2007), when legal miners are to pay for the