IMPACT OF COAL MINING ON ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF CHHATARPUR MINES AT PATHAKHERA AREA OF WESTERN COALFILEDS IN BETUL, (M.P.)

摘要

The present paper deals with the impact of underground coal mining on environment at pathakhera area of Western Coalfields Limitea nearby 200 Km from headquarters at Nagpur (Maharashtra). Presently, WCL has 84 coal mines grouped into 10 operational areas, seven in Maharashtra viz., Nagpur, Umrer, Wani, Majri, Chandrapur, Ballarpur and three in Madhya Pradesh viz., Pench, Kanhan and Pathakhera.WCL is one of the eight subsidiary companies of Coal India Limited (CIL), it was awarded as "Miniratna" in March 2007.WCL with coal production of 45.74 million tonnes during 2009-10, exceeded the target of 45.00 million tonnes by 0.74 million tones and has registered a growth of 1.04 million tones i.e. 2.32 % over last year's 44.70 million tonnes. The WCL area has reserves 13087 million ton against all Indian coal reserves of 267211 million ton as on Is1 April, 2010. The paper aims at the need of implementing the modern technology featuring bord and pillar or room and pillar method for open cast mines and underground mines (UG), so as to claim a clean environment in and around the proposed site.