Impact of stone quarrying on the socioeconomic development of Petta subcounty.

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the impact of quarrying on the socio-economic development of Petta Sub County in Tororo district. 40 respondents participated in the study. The respondents were randomly selected from the parishes of Petta, Ramogi, Pakoi and Mbula. The study objectives were to find out the dominant method of stone quarrying in Petta Sub County, identify the positive socioeconomic impacts of stone quarrying on the development of Petta Sub County, examine the negative socio-economic impacts of stone quarrying on the development of Petta Sub County and identify mitigation measures to the negative impact of quarrying on the socioeconomic development of Petta sub county. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview, observation and recording. The collected data was analyzed using description and statistically using tables, bar graph, column graphs and pie charts. The study found out that the dominant methods of quarrying in Petta Sub County are heating and wedging. The positive impacts of quarrying on the socioeconomic development of Petta Sub County are source of income, provision of employment opportunities, economic diversification, development of trade and commerce, development of infrastructure, provision of building materials, source of water and utilization of idle resources. The negative impact of quarrying includes accident, deforestation, accelerated absenteeism and school dropout, moral decay, child labor, unfilled quarry pits, poor drainage, danger of water borne diseases and destruction of the landscape. The negative impacts have been mitigated by carefulness, tree planting, wedging, use of the local authorities, use of police, clan court, digging water channels, use of mosquito, house spraying and in some instances, nothing has been done.