Need for Clean Coal Mining in India

Mining activity creates tremendous pressure on local flora and fauna particularly when forest lands are taken for mining purposes. The effect of mining on ground water level, silting of surrounding water bodies and land are also of great concern. Coal mining on one hand contributes largely towards economic development of the nation and on the other 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 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, safe techniques to various silt control structures and others. In India coal companies are now working towards “clean coal” strategies, which aim to reduce environmental impacts. The reduced ash contains washed coal which increases the thermal efficiency of combustion. This in turn makes a direct impact on reducing emission of pollutants. However the coal washing requires extra water and it can turn towards a pollution free society.