Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IMPACT OF COAL MINING ACTIVITIES OF JHARIA COALFIELD ON AIR ENVIRONMENT

Bhawna Dubey, A.K. Pal and Gurdeep Singh

Abstract

Jharia Coalfield (JCF) occupies an important place in Indias industrial and energy scenario by virtue of being the only storehouse of prime coking coal and important source of coal for the thermal power generation. The coalfield is subjected to intensive mining activities and accounts for 30% of the total coal production. The increasing trend of opencast mining leads to cause air pollution problems. A study was conducted during Dec2008-Nov2009 to see the status of ambient air quality (Suspended particulate matter, Respirable particulate matter, Sulphur-di-oxide and Nitrogen-di-oxide) status of Jharia coalfield. Air quality monitoring stations were selected after keeping the view of the place of dust generation and production of gaseous pollutants. Meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were also recorded simultaneously during the sampling period. Level of particulate matter (SPM) and respirable particulate matter (RPM) in the study area were exceeding the Air Quality standard for coal mines, 2000 as well as for NAQQS standard (1994 and 2009). The major cause of pollution is due to the industrial, mining and allied activities as well as vehicular movement through the adjacent roads and it was suggested that sources of pollution were located between the sampling stations, and that the dispersal of pollutants into the study area was not significant. The handling plant, railway siding, transportation activities and domestic cooking were identified as the source of pollution in the study area.