Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ASSESSMENT OF CHROMIUM AND NICKEL POLLUTION IN AREAS SURROUNDING COAL OPENCAST MINING OF TELANGANA STATE, INDIA

B. Madhavi, G. Jayasree, G. Bhupal Raj, R. Ragavaiah and M.H.V. Bhave

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to understand and estimate the impact of opencast coalmining on soil available heavy metals viz., Cr and Ni in Telangana state. Soil samples were collected from Srirampur (Adilabad), Medipalli (Karimnagar), Bhupalapally (Warangal) and Yellandu (Khammam) opencast areas of Telangana. At each opencast mining place surface samples (0-15 cm) depth were collected. 10 surface samples cultivated soils at a distance of 1.5 km (approximately) from opencast coal mining area and another 10 surface soil samples from 3.5 km from coal mines in all directions. These samples are designated as samples within 2 km from coal mining and beyond 2 km respectively. With an assumption that accumulation of coal dust will be within 2 km from mining site. Thus a total of 80 samples were collected i.e 40 within 2 km another 40 beyond 2 km from mining area from four places of opencast i.e Srirampur, Medipalli, Bhupalpally and Yellandu. The data was analysed statistically by two sample t test to compare Chromium and Nickel contents in samples within 2 km and beyond 2 km from opencast coal mining. Significantly higher amounts Chromium and Nickel were observed within 2 km area of mining than beyond 2km samples. There is a possibility of accumulation of these metals in crops and vegetation cultivated within 2 km area and enter into food chain. The sources of heavy metals in the coal mining areas are coal dust in the which elements such as Mn, Ni, Zn etc and present in solid form ii) emission by combustion process add in the environment.