A Study on Application of Strategic Planning And Operations Research Techniques in Open Cast Mining

Abstract

Mining happens to be the second oldest industry in the world considering the agriculture as the first and the foremost. That primitive society relied nearly on mined produce that is reflected aptly through nomenclature such as Stone Age, Copper Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. These nomenclatures rightly capture the ethos of the time that shows increasing complexity of people’s society’s relationship with mining produce and use of metals. Our remote ancestors did practice mining on hard rock. Mining remained with their common occupation to earn livelihood and meet their needs. Since they had meager requirement of fuels; their major need of fuel was met mostly from dense forests on the earth. As the time passed, they required to meet ever increasing standards of living. As a result, demand of fuel was felt as extremely necessary for the existence of mankind and it kept on growing. In order to meet ever increasing demand, mining of coal took a shape in one way or the other. N