By : Sikandar Kumar
Research Scholar, IIT (ISM), Dhanbad, 826004
1 Introduction
Coal is the only natural resource and fossil fuel available, and it is utilize in thermal power plants to generate electricity and in substantial amounts in metallurgical operations. India’s principal source of power generation is coal, which provides for about 55 percent of the country’s energy needs.
After China and the United States of America, India stood third-largest coal producer. On April 1, 2014, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) reported 301.5 billion tonnes of coal in India, with prime coking coals accounting for 5.3 billion tonnes, medium and semi-coking coals accounting for 28.7 billion tonnes, and non-coking coals accounting for 266 billion tonnes. Jharkhand has the largest coal reserves in the country, with 80 billion tonnes. Jharia, Raniganj, Karanpura, Singareni, Talcher, Neyveli, Singrauli, Nagpur, and Chandrapur are among the country’s significant coalfields. The major coalfield is seen in the figure below.
Figure 1 Major coal field in India
The demand for coal in India is growing by the day, and coal production is increasing dramatically to fulfill the need. In general, there are two methods for extracting coal from the earth: the first is underground mining, which requires bord and pillar operations, and the second is surface mining. The environmental impact of surface mining is more significant than underground mining. This activity causes a variety of environmental effects, including air, water, and soil degradation, topographic alterations, and vegetation disturbance.
2 Environmental Impact
2.1 Impact on air
To assess air quality in a mining region, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has established national ambient air quality guidelines. Any deviation from the standard in pollutant concentrations is considered hazardous to the local population. Asthma, bronchitis, and other ailments can be caused by polluted air. When nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) interact with water droplets during rainfall, the pH of the water is decreased.
Smog is formed when volatile organic chemicals (emitted by coal fires) mix with nitrogen and sulphur oxides in the presence of sunlight, resulting in a variety of negative effects on humans, plants, and animals. Because of the hazardous gases created by mining activities, acid rain has been documented in the coal mining belt. Plants, soil, water bodies, and other infrastructure are all harmed by acid rain
Figure 2 Representative figure of air pollution in Jharia coalfield
Opencast coal mining pollutes the air more significantly than underground coal mining. Men in underground coal mining are exposed to coal dust in the mine workings. However, opencast mining causes significantly worsening air quality in the mining zone in terms of dust and gaseous pollutants. It creates air pollution. There are issues within the mine and in the neighbouring residential areas, resulting in poor air quality. High levels of suspended particulate matter increase the incidence of respiratory disorders such as chronic bronchitis and asthma. At the same time, gaseous emissions contribute to global warming while also posing health risks to those who are exposed.
2.2 Impact on water
Massive amounts of filthy water from underground and opencast mines are pumped into Indian rivers, causing it to become chemically polluted. Apart from mining, coal beneficiation and preparation factories discharge considerable water effluents into the river, endangering the entire aquatic ecology.
Discharge of mine water and sewage effluents are all elements that contribute to water contamination. Aside from that, due to dissolved sulphates and chlorides, mine water released from underground mines has a high hardness.
The influence of mining activities on water and soil has been documented in several studies. The problem of water pollution is not exclusive to the Jharia coal area; it affects the entire mining region. Similarly, heavy metal analysis of mine water from the Neyevli lignite mines in Tamil Nadu.
Figure 3 Water effuluent dischage from coal prepration plant.
2.3 Impact on surface topography
Typically, open cast mining alters the surface topography significantly. The topsoil and vegetation cover are completely removed, and overburden dumps and pits are built in their stead. The natural soil profile and drainage system may be disrupted, resulting in long-term consequences that may be difficult to restore to their pre-disturbance state. It also has an aesthetic influence, as the landscape changes over time from plain land to pits and wastes. According to one study, operations in the Jharia coalfield have caused groundwater quality to deteriorate. Furthermore, the jharia’s groundwater table has been lowered as a result of constant mine water pumping.
2.4 Coal mine fires
Coal mine fires are a potential calamity waiting to happen, and they’ve already depleted important natural resources. Mining without proper rules and regulations has resulted in fires that have been raging in the Jharia coalfield for more than a century. Several coal mines across the country have been destroyed by fires, resulting in a constant loss of valuable coal supplies.
There were 163 coal mine fires in 1986. Ninety-seven of them were said to be in the Jharia coalfield. Mine fires were thought to be caused by coal heating up spontaneously. It’s tough to keep track of a fire once it’s started. If the fire is not put out, it may spread across interconnected coal seams and cracks in the same strata. Approximately 10% of total national coal resources are believed to be in fire-affected areas.
Figure 4 Coal fire in Dhanbad region
Mine fires cause a variety of environmental issues in addition to safety risks and financial losses. Mine fires substantially impact all four essential components of the environment: air, water, land, and population. Mine fires are responsible for a large portion of the pollution in the atmosphere. When fires become surface fires, the consequences on the air are severe.
3 Socio-economic Issues
Several academics have identified a number of socio-economic difficulties among local populations. In the blow section, the major difficulties are briefly explained.
3.1 The problem of rehabilitation and Marginalization
Landlessness is one of the most severe socio-economic issues in mining areas, as there is always the risk of losing land due to mining activities and the construction of other infrastructure. People that live in pre-mining areas are designated and reliant on their own means of subsistence. Still, as mining activities begin and land is acquired for mining and associated infrastructure, residents of the region begin to lose their livelihood and businesses. This resulted in the region’s unemployment. As they fall into lower socio-economic level relative to their home locations, displaced people and entire communities face the risk of marginalization.
3.2 Population dynamics changes
All of the human resources needed for mining and related activities are brought in from outside because a trained workforce is rarely found among the ethnic community. As a result, the area’s population dynamics fluctuate dramatically over time, resulting in ethnic population dilution.
3.3 Cost of living and Health Hazards
Increased industrial and economic activity generates more money, increasing the purchasing power of people who are directly or indirectly involved in these activities. This raises the expense of living, which harms people who aren’t involved in these activities, such as ethnic minorities.
Moving adds to the stress and trauma of an already vulnerable health situation. Increased diarrhea, dysentery, and epidemic diseases are frequently recorded as a result of resettled communities obtaining access to good drinking water and sanitation.
4 Conclusion
Mining has a tremendous impact on the economic, social, and environmental fabric of the surrounding area. Mining activities contribute to economic development in the area, but they also degrade the land, causing ecological and socio-economic issues. Mining harms the ecology as a whole. It is critical to conduct appropriate evaluations to comprehend the potential adverse effects of mining on flora and wildlife. The negative impact should be discovered early on in the planning process to implement corrective action.
Coal extraction has traditionally been linked to significant environmental consequences. Coal mining activities directly impact geo-environmental parameters such as air, water, soil, agricultural lands, flora, LULC, and landforms. The people who live near mining zones are the ones that suffer the most. Quantifying the impacts, determining the causes, and recommending appropriate remedial measures are necessary for mining areas.
Several investigations have found that acid mine drainage concerns exist in India’s coalfields, including WCL, NCL, and NECL. The water quality in some of these coal regions’ mines is acidic, with high sulphate, TDS, and heavy metals, including Fe and Mn. Mine water has a pH ranging from 1.53 to 6.65, damaging the surrounding water system.
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