After Mining, We Return Country to Nature and People

OSTRAVA – Should we have gold or diamond mines, oilfields or other mineral resources, we would have a wonderful time in our country – this is the way in which many people associate such treasures of the earth with the luxurious life, brimful of happiness. Yes, the discovery and mining of mineral resources usually caused a respective locality to undergo an unprecedented development, which was also the case of coal. Without the coal discovery and mining, Ostrava would not have become any regional city and the city of Havířov would not have developed and the city of Orlová would have continued to be a remote little village...

However, the coal extraction from the depths of the earth also brings its negatives. An eyesore to nature lovers, and not only to them, is the caused nature devastation. It is taken into account, but at the same time, incurred damage is being remedied. It is true that this has not been always the case, or, more specifically, the damage, caused by mining activities has not always been remedied in the way in which the country, providing work, and consequently also wealth, to people, would have deserved so. Over the last years, we have been repaying this debt. It continues to be associated with difficulties, but results gradually appear. We want to convince you thereof through a serial, which is currently under preparation, concerning the land reclamation and redevelopment projects that are in progress in our hard coal district.

In the weeks to come, we will present to the readers our documents – photos with information on all both OKD and the state have completed to remedy the mining effects. It will enable the readers to look into quite romantic corners where a few years ago, black slurry ponds or ugly refuse piles  were still dominant, i.e. into locations which were previously marked as the moonscape. At present, such places are full of greenery and water areas, where animals and birds, including rare species, as well as people – fishermen, tourists, cyclists and bikers,  come back  ... Some of such locations are then appropriate for constructing industrial zones, sports fields or residential areas.

A couple of numbers give evidence of the immense scope of work and funds required by this change. For the period of 1991 to 2008, the land reclamation costs amounted to CZK 2.446 billion. Just last year, such costs amounted to CZK 311.8 million. In 2008, the redevelopment programme included 47 land reclamation projects (22 technical reclamation projects and 25 biological reclamation projects). And further 20 projects are included in the project preparation for the period until 2015!

(Josef Lys)