Abstract

Quarrying is an activity where stones are dug for the purpose of building, roads construction, production of cement and so on. Quarrying is carried out  by cutting, digging or blasting. The main problems faced by the inhabitance of Tombel due to the quarrying activity include durst in motion, poor transport roads and accidents. The general objective of the study was to investigate the socio-environmental implication of gravel quarry in Tombel sub-division. The null hypothesis that was tested was to find out if there was a relationship between quarrying activity and the environment in Tombel sub-division.

Questionnaires were used as tools of data collection. Stratified random sampling was done to get the target population of 60, which was used to gather data. The information collected was analyzed using cross tabulation and to generate frequencies and statistical graphs for the interpretation of data, through Chi Square test (x2). It was established that gravel quarrying has a significant socio-environmental impact in Tombel Sub-Division.

The findings of the study indicated that, the workers face numerous problems which include the lack basic working materials, pollution produced the quarrying activities. the findings shows that, regardless of the important role that quarrying activities play in the economic growth it resulted into negative effects to both the quarrying workers and the environment such effects include poor health conditions and land degradation. Future intervention should be taken by the government of Cameroon to ensure that, the laws governing the quarrying and mining industries are observed through enhanced surveillance.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction.

1.1 Background of the study

A quarry is an open pit mine in which minerals are extracted. Gravel quarrying is a form of land use method concerned with the extraction of non-fuel and non-metal minerals from rocks. It is mostly done by open cast method using rock drills, explosion of dynamite and use of other methods. A quarry is a surface mining operated area, which produces enormous quantity of gravel, limestone and other materials for industrial and for construction, (Duan et al, 2008).

According to Benda, (2003) a quarry is a place from where dimension stone rocks, construction aggregate riprap sand, gravels or slates have been excavated from the ground. Usually, where quarrying takes place, the land is cleared of all vegetation, the land scape is drastically altered and the ecosystem totally disrupted (Brandshow and Chadwick (1980) and Roberts and Marrs (1981).

Although in general, a quarry is an open surface operation in which virgin rocks are extracted; each quarry has different equipment that is used. The design and general running operation of a quarry depends on the type of rock being extracted, the general environment surrounding the quarry, the size of the quarry, the geography of the quarry and geology of the area (Joseph,2000) and Nicolau and Asenso(2000)).

The extraction of sand and gravel have a long history and small quarries can be traced back from18 and 19 centuries up to the middle 20 century, these small quarries have remain typical (carino, 2002).

However, since the Second World War, larger quarries have been worked to extract the rich sand and gravel resources often expanding the small, earlier sites. The degradation of the environment due to stone quarrying activities has put forth questions as to whether or not the mining activity should be continued.

Additionally, some four million people are reported to die yearly from acute respiratory problem in developing countries, for most part being affected by environmental pollution emanating from quarrying, sand blasting and from the emission of dangerous chemicals (Marrs et al (1981) .It has been found out that in Africa, East Asia, South East Asia and Latin America, accessibility to natural resources such as building stones, plays a critical role in the provision of livelihood. A livelihood comprises of the capabilities, assets including both material and social resources and activities required for living; a livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stress and shock and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in the future ( Marrs et al,1981).

Gravel quarry in Cameroon has witness a lot of benefits such as job creation, foreign exchange earnings and the provision of building materials. However, those benefits have come alongside with lasting effects that are detrimental to the society at large. Examples of areas in Cameroon where quarry activities are carried out include the Adamawa plateau, coastal regions and in Tombel which is the study area

Quarry in Tombel before now was mainly at a small scale, local stone breaking is at a small scale, mainly for construction of houses and roads. Today, with the arrival of the Dangoté Cement Company owned by a Nigerian Alikodangoté, a five years proposal for a 27 hecter Pazzelum quarry in Tombel was approved. This has made quarrying in Tombel more intensified and industrial. The raw materials excavated from this quarry site is used in the production of cement on the banks of the Wouri River in Douala, Cameroon which open its doors on October 2014.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Gravel quarry along the Loum-Tombel road is an important economic activity. This activity is faced with some major problems which are of great concern to man and his environment in both negative and positive ways. The benefits of quarry activities should trickle down to the people of the community and the surrounding area, (Aiabedion, 2005).

The Loum-Tombel road; is characterized with a lot of road accidents which is as a result of the state of the road, and the small size contrary to what is expected due to the presence of the quarries in the area. The weight of the trucks have destroyed the road which has made it difficult for the transportation of people from Tombel to Loum especially during the rainy season, thus, the Increase of transportation cost from Tombel to Loum and Vice-versa. The machines used in the site produce a lot of noise which has become a nuisance to the communities around the site.

The quarry has encroached onto Agricultural land, It has eaten part of the portion used for farming which has rendered so many people jobless as their small portion of land has been taken and used as parking space.

The quarrying activities in Tombel Sub-division has caused significant impact on the environment, the blasting rocks with explosives in other to extract material for processing gives rise to pollution, damage to biodiversity and habitat destruction which affect the human environment of that particular area (Okafor,2006).

Most of the workers at the site are from other localities like Yaounde and Douala, and the few indigenes employed there are mostly unskilled laborers They are mostly given the risky jobs, this has left workers at risk as they face problems of accidents at the sites and even death in some cases.

1.3 Research questions

Based on the problem statement, the following research questions have been developed to guide the study

1.3.1 Main research question

The main research question of the study what are the socio-developmental implications or impact of gravel quarry in Tombel Sub-division?

1.3.2 Specific research questions

1. What methods and techniques are used in the extraction of gravel in Tombe Sub Division?
2. What are the effects of this activity to the environment and to the people in this area?
3. What solutions have been proposed to the problems related to gravel extraction in Tombel Sub-division?

1.4 Research objectives

The following objectives underline the study:

1.4.1 Main research objective

The general objective of the study is to investigate the socio-environmental impact of gravel quarry in Tombel-sub-Division

1.4.2 Specific objectives.

1. To examine the methods and techniques used in the extraction of gravel in Tombel subdivision
2. To examine the impact of quarry activity to the people and to the environment.
3. To propose solutions to the negative implications related to the gravel extraction in Tombel Sub Division.

1.5 Research hypotheses

The hypotheses of this study is presented below;

H1 Gravel quarry has significant socio-environmental impact in Tombel-Sub Division.

H0: Gravel quarry has no significant socio-environmental impact in Tombel-Sub Division.