Project Scope: Review of the cultural and heritage resources Legal and Policy review as per state of Rajasthan Government of India Preparation of inventory of heritage resources and condition assessment Preparation of a Geo-referenced digital database of cultural heritage resources Stakeholder Analysis Impact Assessment Preparation of Heritage Management Framework and Action Plan for conservation.
Project Brief: Zawar mines are one of the oldest Lead Zinc mines in India. These are mute testimony to the exploitative and extractive excellence achieved by the country during ancient time. The technology, with time, had modernized and refined but Zawar serves as one of the major Lead Zinc producing unit of Hindustan Zinc Limited, the world’s largest integrated Lead Zinc producer A Vedanta Group Company listed on London Stock Exchange. The exact date of commencement of mining activity in the Indian sub continent cannot be given a specific date but it was well developed in India during early period, notably at the time of Indus valley civilization (Circa 3200-2500 BC). There are evidences of presence of ancient mines & metallurgical slag heaps and furnace debris scattered in Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Gujarat. The occurrence is confined to different mineral belts which are broadly trending in NE-SW direction from Alwar (Rajasthan) in north to Khandia (Gujarat) in south along the strike of Aravalli Mountain Range. Total 145 localities have been identified from where evidences of ancient mining and metallurgy have been recorded. As a requirement under the company’s recently adopted sustainability policy, a comprehensive ESIA study for Zawar Mines was to be done. As per Vedanta’s sustainability policy and IFC performance standard-8 there was a requirement of a detailed heritage impact assessment. The report presents the Heritage Impact Assessment and Heritage Management Plan for Zawar mines and Proposed Smelter complex. The objective of this heritage impact assessment study was to record the baseline condition of the heritage resources, examine impacts of the proposed mining operation on these sites and develop a heritage management plan to facilitate conservation of these resources.