Evaluating the Effects and Social Consequences of Launching the Mining Site and Processing Plant in Taftan Township

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University; Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Sistan and Baluchestan; Zahedan, Iran.

3 Department of History and Anthropology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Velayat University; Iranshahr, Iran.

4 Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University; Sabzevar, Iran.

Abstract

Aim: The current research aims to evaluate the social effects and consequences of development action in the southeast of Iran. This action is related to construction of a polymetal mine in South Taftan. 
Material & Method: Methodologically, this research should also be an analytical and explanatory study based on a qualitative approach. Accordingly, this approach was followed by the method of field study and techniques including observation, interview, analysis of beneficiaries for collecting data, and content analysis technique applied for this purpose.
Finding: Most involved beneficiaries declared some issues such as alignment of action with regional sustainable development plans, unemployment adjustment and providing constant employment opportunities, achieving sustainable security, reverse migration, and benefitting other public and service providers in the region are among the positive outcomes of this project. On the other side, issues like changing the traditional livelihood patterns, damage to gardens or farms and homes in the mine area, threats to the health of residents, air and environmental pollution, loss of natural landscape of villages and environmental threats, and in particular the intensification of local and intergroup tensions are among the consequences which especially natives and their representatives feel likely to occur following launching the project. In the meantime, it should be emphasized that the ignorance and ambiguity of the local community towards this project is one of the main areas of intensification of concerns in the mentioned community. 
Conclusion: The construction of the mine causes fears and hopes. In order to manage these fears and hopes, it is necessary to pay attention to the mental and semantic framework of the natives.
Innovation: The present research is one of the few studies in the social impact assessment of mining construction in Persian.

Keywords

References

Ahmadi Givi, M. (2015). Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the beautification project of Pirouzi Street (Research Project Report). Tehran: Institute of Development Studies, ACECR. [in persian]
Ahmadi, H. and Bidollahkhani, A. (2013). "The Post-development Interest and Critical Representations of Development Debate; a Democratic Approach". Iranian Social Development Studies, 5 (3): 47-64. https://jisds.srbiau.ac.ir/article_2433.html?lang=fa. [in persian]
Anbari, M. (2011). Sociology of Development; From Economy to Culture. Tehran: Samt. [in persian]
Anbari, M. (2016). Nightmare of "Development" and Rural Disquiet. Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 5 (1): 171-187. https://jisr.ut.ac.ir/article_58382.html. [in persian]
Azami, H.; Dahmardeh, M. and Jamal, S. (2013). "Investigation and Analysis of the Main Security Challenges of the Borders of Sistan and Baluchistan Province". Journal of Research Police Sciences, 4 (8): 1-26. [in persian]
Banifatemeh, H.; Bayani, F. and Alipour, P. (2020). "Development Projects as Hegemonic Projects: Analysis of the Functions of Imagineering Policies in Border Areas - Case Study: Saqqez City". The Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Sociological Research, 9 (16): 1-36. https://csr.basu.ac.ir/article_3667.html. [in persian]
Behbudi, D.; Barghi Oskooee, M. M. and Mohammadi, R. (2018). "The Effects of an Increase in the Investment and the Total Factor Productivity of the Mining Sector on the Value Added and Export of Different Economic Sectors in Iran". Quarterly Journal of Applied Theories of Economics, 4 (4): 199-227. https://ecoj.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_7198.html. [in persian]
Blaikie, N. (2008). Designing Social Research. Trans to Persian by H. Chavoshian. Tehran: Ney. [in persian]
Burdge, R. J. (2011). A Community Guide to Social Impact Assessment. Trans to Persian by M. Ramezani and M. Ghelich. Tehran: Jame-e Shenasan. [in persian]
Chitsaz, M. (2015). Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the urban trimming and removal of visual excesses between Enghelab Square and Vali-Asr intersection (Research Project Report). Tehran: Department of Social and Cultural Studies of Tehran Municipality. [in persian]
Creswell, J. W. (2011). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. CA: Sage.
Escobar, Arturo (1995). Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Eversole, Robyn (2018). Anthropology for Development; From Theory to Practice. London: Routledge.
Fazeli, M. (2017). Social Impact Assessment. Tehran: Teesa. [in persian]
Fazeli, M. and Alikhah, F. (2012). Sociocultural Attachment of the Improvement of Imam Hossein Square and the Pedestrianization of Hefdeh Shahrivar Street (Research Project Report). Tehran: Tehran Municipality's Beautification Organization. [in persian]
Hamidian, A.; Nasrabadi, E. and Ghodrati, H. (2017). "Investigation of Socio-economic Consequences of Soil Dam through Focusing on Inhabitants Satisfaction - Case Study: Village of Kamiz Sabzevar". Arid Regions Geographic Studies, 8 (27): 53-62. https://jargs.hsu.ac.ir/article_161437.html?lang=en. [in persian]
Karami, G. and Rezaei Moghadam, K. (2015). "Social Impact Assessment: A New Approach to Sustainable Management of Development Programs". Quarterly Journal of Socio-Cultural Development Studies, 4 (2): 169-194. http://journals.sabz.ac.ir/scds/article-1-199-fa.html. [in persian]
Khoubfekr Barabadi, H.; Hosseinbor, M. O. and Roustakhiz, B. (2020). "Livelihood Patterns of Nomadic Households in Drought Conditions - Case Study: Nomadic Households of Sistan and Balochistan Province". Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 9 (3): 615-640. https://jisr.ut.ac.ir/article_77535.html. [in persian]
Kiyani F.; Ansari R. and Taghdisi A. (2015). "Socio-economic and Environmental Impacts of Hegmatan Cement Company in Shahanjarin Village". Space Economy & Rural Development, 4 (12): 133-144. http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-2439-fa.html. [in persian]
Mansouri Moghadam, M.; Nosrati, R. and Sepidnam, B. (2023). "Evaluation of Development Plans with the Approach of Critical Ethnography - Case Study: Dam Construction Projects in Ilam Province". Journal of Community Development, 14 (2): 333-351. [in persian]
Masoudi, H. (2021). Sociocultural Attachment of the Mashhad Mountain Park Project. Mashhad: Mashhad Municipality. https://jrd.ut.ac.ir/article_89933.html?lang=fa. [in persian]
Mohammadpour, A. (2013). Qualitative Research Methods. Tehran: Jame-e Shenasan. [in persian]
Moon, J. (2017). Corporate Social Responsibility: A Very Short Introduction. Trans to Persian by M. Shahrabi Farahani. Tehran: Miras Ahle Ghalam. [in persian]
Moradi, A. (2015). Cultural Impact Assessment. Isfahan: Darkhovin. [in persian]
Rahbari, L. (2013). "Anthropology as a Liberating Science: Integrating Theory and Practice in Participatory Action Research". Iranian Journal of Anthropological Research, 2 (2): 141-161. https://ijar.ut.ac.ir/article_50670.html. [in persian]
Sadeghloo, T.; Sojasi Ghidari, H. and Riahi V. (2016). "Assessing Eco-environmental Effects of Mining Extractive Industries on the Sustainability of Rural Areas - Case: Villages Surrounding Zanjan Cement Factory". Space Economy & Rural Development, 5 (15): 173-199. [in persian]
Soleymani, E.; Khani, S. and Maghsoudi, E. (2018). Investigating Environmental and Social Challenges of Tash Bauxite Mine (Research Project Report). Tehran: Islamic Parliament Research Center. [in persian]
Statistical Center of Iran (2016). The Results of the Population and Housing Census. Available at: https://www.amar.org.ir . [in persian]
Talebian, S. A.; Mallaki, A. (2013). "A Model for the Social Impacts Assessment in Iran's Oil and Gas Industry". Quarterly Journal of Socio-Cultural Development Studies, 1 (3): 161-186. http://journals.sabz.ac.ir/scds/article-1-40-fa.html&sw= [in persian]
Valinia, E.; Ghader Marzi, H. and Molaei, N. (2020). "The Role of Mining Activities in the Stability of Rural Settlements in Qorve City". Space Economy & Rural Development, 8 (30): 63-80. http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3421-fa.html. [in persian]
Yaghoubi Farani, A.; Izadi, N. and Ataie, P. (2016). "Assessment of Ecological and Social Impact of Fadami Dam Construction on Agricultural Development of the Area". Geography and Development, 14 (43): 91-112. https://gdij.usb.ac.ir/article_2480.html?lang=fa. [in persian]
Zakeri, Z. (2019). Series of Regional Studies and Land Use Planning in Iran (Research Project Report). Tehran: Islamic Parliament Research Center. [in persian]
Zokai, S. (2002). "Theory and Method in Qualitative Research". Quarterly Journal of Social Sciences, 9 (17): 41-69. https://qjss.atu.ac.ir/article_5209.html. [in persian]
Journal of Arid Regions Geographic Studies
Volume 14, Issue 51
May 2023
Pages 23-1

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics