Susceptible Development: Impact of Coal Mining on Environment in India

Abstract

Coal mining contributes largely towards economic development of the nation like India although it has a great impact upon the human health. It also has its impact on socio-cultural aspect of the workers and people residing in and around coal mining areas. Thus a holistic approach for taking up to mining activities, keeping in mind concerns for adjoining habitats and ecosystem, is the need of the hour. This requires identification of various sites where minerals exist and various factors ranging from appropriate angle of slope of overburden dumps, safe disposal drains, and safe techniques to various silt control structures etc. In India Coal companies are now working towards "clean coal" strategies, which aim to reduce environmental impacts. The reduced ash contents of the washed coal increase the thermal efficiency of combustion, which in turn make a direct impact on reducing emission of pollutants. However the coal washing requires extra water and it can turn towards a pollution free society. Coal is mined by two main methods - Surface or 'opencast' and underground mining method. Geological condition determines the method of mining. Coal mining is usually associated with degradation of natural resources and destruction of habitat. This causes invasive species to occupy the area, thus posing a threat to biodiversity. Huge quantities of waste material are produced by several mining activities in the coal mining region. If proper care is not taken for waste disposal, mining degrades the environment. The method of waste disposal affects land, water and air and in turns the quality of life of the people in the adjacent areas. This paper tries to focus on the various issues of environmental pollutions in mining areas.