IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL QUALITY

The unscientific mining practices undertaken result in large degradation of land in the form of subsidence, underground goaf filled with water, mine fires, destruction of vegetation, generation of wind blow dust etc. Considering the above problems, programme was undertaken to assess the damages already taken place due to unscientific mining by Private mine owners in eastern part of country and to suggest the mitigation measures. For this purpose, monitoring was undertaken to characterise the mine water, soil and air in Jharia Coal field, Dhanbad, Bihar. Results indicated that mine water of this area is near neutral with low suspended solids in most of the cases, while major problem is erosion of loose particles. Overburden dump which is a constant source of pollution to the river system by way of turbidity and sedimentation. SPM level in ambient air is quite high. It has been observed that about 70 number of mine fires has already spreaded over an area of 17.32 sq.km, while approximately 34.97 sq.km area is under subsidence. The opencast mining has already ecologically damaged the vast area. As mitigation measures, dump should be properly shaped to reduce erosion and to allow vegetation with proper attention for reconditioning dry of soil and appropriate selection of plant species.