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Among the fossil fuels, coal has acquired the dubious distinction of being the dirtiest one. Such an attribute is on account of environmental damage and pollution problems caused during mining, processing, end use and wastes of coal. Land subsidence in underground mines, ugly scars of land in abandoned open cast mines, emissions of fly ash during combustion of coal and huge quantities of ash generated from boilers of coal based power plants and industrial houses are among the hosts of problems associated with handling and use of coal. Emission of carbon dioxide, an important component of "green house gases" (GHGs) and global warming, is yet another emerging concern linked with burning of coal. However, inspite of all the odds, coal constitutes a major source for catering to our growing energy needs. With the proper technologies and initiatives for better management, it is possible to reduce the hazards otherwise caused. Through scientific mining practices followed by land reclamation, beneficiation for ash reduction at source, improvement in combustion methods, use of efficient electrostatic precipitators/bag filters for trapping of fly ash emission and effective management of ash including its utilisation for bricks, cement and such other purposes, many of the problems can be prevented and controlled. With these objectives in view, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has laid down the environmental guidelines for coal mining activities, prescribed the use of beneficiated coal with lower ash content in power plants and laid down the norms for emissions and effluents from coal combustion systems. In this Issue of Parivesh, as collated by my colleagues Dr. S. Paliwal, Shri Lalit Kapur and Dr. B. Sengupta, an overview of the present status and possibilities for clean coal initiatives are highlighted.

Dilip Biswas                                                                                                                         Chairman, CPCB