Impact of Opencast Coal Mining on Phytodiversity in Jharia Coalfield With Special Reference to Herbaceous Dicots

摘要

Impact of coal mining on phytodiversity is created by human being to enhance standards of living. The mining activities in Jharia Coalfield provides raw materials in the form of crusher, gravels and stones, etc., for construction of roads and other infrastructure. The number of species endangered by human activities and the number of natural and semi natural habitats being destroyed. Surface necessitates full uncovering of the mineral deposit and overlying vegetation and soil are completely destroyed. Open cast mining of coal deposits involves removal of overlying soil rock debris. This debris is heaped in the form of dumps and is called over burden. Lack of vegetation cover on such dumps often leads to acute problem of soil erosion and environmental pollution. It results in the impact on phytodiversity and physiographic features of concerned region. During the study impact of opencast coal mining on phytodiversity in Jharia Coalfield with special reference to herbaceous dicots evaluated at 5 sites. At the entire sites during 3 different seasons, a total of 57 different plant species belonging to 23 families and 51 genera were identified. The entire sites are considered biodiversity rich, which have threat of loss due to coal mining.