Coal Mining Pollution and its control measures:

INTRODUCTION
Coal is the worlds most abundant and important source of primary energy. Reserves of coal are spread worldwide throughout some 100 developed and developing countries, sufficient to meet global needs for the next 250 years. It is an important fossil fuel for generation of electricity and for other industrial purposes. Coal mining is now essential part of civilization. Traditionally, coal mining and coal fired power plants are considered to be most polluted industry. There are numerous damaging environmental impacts of coal, from both coal-fired power plants and coal mining. These include significant emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, which are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and climate change. Coal burning and mining also cause several other kinds of air and water pollution, creating serious health and environmental risks.

COAL MINING:
Coal is recovered from the ground either by (a) underground or (b) surface mining.

UNDERGROUND MINING:
It creates voids over many square miles. Two basically different methods are used: longwall and room-and-pillar mining. In longwall mining all coal is recovered from the mined panels; hence, subsidence occurs at the surface almost immediately and it is planned for. Room-andpillar mining leaves about half of the coal in the ground as pillars to support the surface and prevent subsidence. However, subsidence may still occur because coal pillars or the floor strata under them fail, sometimes decades after mining (this sort of unplanned subsidence is a significant problem in major coal-producing states of the past). Subsidence causes damage to structures and interferes with the drainage of surface water; it may also impact aquifers. Coal left in the ground may catch fire, for example, through spontaneous combustion. Mine fires are difficult to control; some have burned for decades, even centuries. They can cause considerable local pollution, as well as other problems. Coal also always contains methane (CH4), most of which is released into the atmosphere during mining. On the average, the deeper a mine, the more methane it generates. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming. Another significant environmental problem is related to underground mines that operated above the local drainage level. The mine workings collect and conduct water that oxidizes the ever-present pyrite (FeS2) in coal-bearing strata and causes acid mine drainage into the local drainage system. This is a common problem in the mountainous Appalachian coal fields where many old mines were operated at shallow depth above valley floors.

SURFACE MINING:
For surface mining, large machines are used to remove all rocks and/or soil above the coal bed or beds to gain access to it or them (usually at depths of less than 150 to two hundred feet). Any surface drainage and aquifers in the overburden will be severely impacted within the vicinity of the mine pit. Also, the fertility of agricultural land becomes a concern. Modern mining laws require the careful monitoring of groundwater at mines and the restoration of proper drainage and fertility to farmland, to its pre mining levels, through reclamation. Contaminated water (e.g., water containing suspended fine solids and/or dissolved minerals) may run off the open pit and must be treated before release into the local drainage system.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DUE TO COAL MINES:

In number of ways coal mining projects pollute environment. Environment problems related to coal mines are as following.

AIR POLLUTION:
Air pollution in coal mines is mainly due to the fugitive emission of particulate matter and gases including methane (CH4), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The mining operations like drilling, blasting, movement of the heavy earth moving machinery on haul roads, collection, transportation and handling of coal, screening, sizing and segregation units are the major sources of such emissions. Underground mine fire is also a major source of air pollution in some of the coal fields. The use of explosives releases carbon monoxide (CO), which poses a health risk for mine workers. Dust and coal particles stirred up during the mining process, as well as the soot released during coal transport, can cause severe and potentially deadly respiratory problems. High levels of suspended particulate matter increase respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis and asthma cases while gaseous emissions contribute towards global warming besides causing health hazards to the exposed population. Methane emission from coal mining depends on the mining methods, depth of coal mining, coal quality and entrapped gas content in coal seams.

WATER POLLUTION:
The major source of water pollution in the coal mines is the carryover of the suspended solids in the drainage system of the mine sump water and storm water drainage. In some of the coal mines, acidic water is also found in the underground aquifers. In addition, waste water from coal preparation plant and mine water are other sources of water pollution. Acid mine drainage refers to water with high concentrations of sulfuric acid draining out of surface or subsurface coal mines. The sulfur-laden (acidic) water originates from rainwater percolating through numerous fractures in crushed sulfur-rich coal left in the mines. Today, in coal mining areas, the greatest problem with acid mine drainage in water streams are from abandoned deep mines. Effluent from abandoned mine sites continues to be the leading water quality problem in river and stream ecosystems.

LAND DEGRADATION:
The opencast coal mines are developed at the surface, because of that these mines are also called surface coal mines. The overburden, i.e., the rock or soil overlaid the coal seam, are removed before extraction of coal. This overburden is dumped on surface, preferably on minedout or de coaled area. Therefore, this type of mining requires quite large area on surface. Many a times, large forest areas are transferred for coal mining purpose. The clearing of trees, plants, and topsoil from mining areas destroys forests and natural wildlife habitats. It also promotes soil erosion and flooding, and stirs up dust pollution that can lead to respiratory problems in nearby communities. The land degradation is the result of creation and expansion of opencast coal mines. The aspect of land degradation in underground coal mines is due to subsidence over the underground cavity resulted from underground caving.

NOISE POLLUTION:
Main sources of noise pollution are blasting, movement of heavy earth moving machines, drilling and coal handling plants etc.

SOLID WASTE:
Major source of solid waste in a coal mine is the overburden. Segregation of the stones in the coal handling plants and the coal breeze also contribute to the solid waste generation. Overburden to coal ratio in the open cast mining is about 2 m3/tonne of coal or sometime more. Therefore, the quantum of overburden generated and its proper management is the main concern area in dealing with the environmental issue of opencast coal mines.

DEFORESTATION:
The requirement of land for a big opencast coal projects are quite large. Many of the forest area, many a times, are converted to mining field. Therefore, large forest areas are deforested to make a way for large opencast coal mines.

CONTROL MEASURES:
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. To mitigate above environmental problems several control measures, generally, are adopted. Some of the control measures are as following.

SUBSIDENCE:

Subsidence of surface takes place due to extraction of coal by underground mining. Subsidence is exhibited by cracks on surface and lowering of land in the worked out areas compared to surroundings. The surface is rehabilitated by dozing and sealing of cracks followed by plantation of trees. The subsided areas with medium-sized depressions are ideal for developing water pools and sustain green vegetation and also to meet the water needs of local people.

ABANDONED MINES:
The mined-out areas are to be backfilled and then rehabilitated for development of vegetation. In the quarried areas water reservoir is developed for water harvesting. The big voids created by open-pit mining cause land degradation. These voids can be gainfully utilized to serve as water reservoirs. This water provides moisture for vegetation in the surroundings areas. The water is used for domestic supply after necessary treatment. Irrigation to nearby agricultural land also may be thought off.

EXTERNAL OVERBURDEN DUMP:

The external dump area presents an unaesthetic appearance unless rehabilitated. Vegetative rehabilitation of these dumps prevents erosion and also improves aesthetics.

MINE FIRE:
The measures for controlling the mine fires include dozing, leveling and blanketing with soil to prevent the entry of oxygen and to stabilize the land for vegetal growth.

WATER & AIR POLLUTION CONTROL:

Mine water is pumped to a lagoon, which acts as a sedimentation pond. The overflow water, which is fairly clean, is drained out to natural drain or used for dust suppression activities. Similarly, washery effluent is re-circulated through thickener and slime ponds. For reducing air pollution, water spraying and sprinkling is done on the haul /transport roads to suppress the dust generation.

COAL UTILIZATION & POLLUTION:

Coal, due to its origin from plants, is composed primarily of the "organic" elements carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S). Whenever coal is used, it eventually ends up being burned, either through direct combustion in boilers, for example, those in large electric utility power plants, or after conversion into intermediate products like coke. Of all the oxidation products of these elements, carbon dioxide (CO2) has become a major concern because it is a powerful greenhouse gas that accumulates in the atmosphere and is considered the primary cause of global warming. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides (SO2, NOx), when released into the atmosphere from power plants, become a human health hazard and lead to the formation of acid rain

CONCLUSION:
The mining industry has enormous impacts on the environment and on local communities. Local and regional effects of coal mining include conversion of vast swathes of land into desolate wastelands; habitat loss and species extinction; cracked river beds; waterways polluted with salt and sediment; air, noise, and visual pollution resulting in negative health impacts on local communities; exploitative workplace practices; displacement of alternative industries, and more. In developing nation as over 90% of electricity is generated from coal the environmental impacts due coal mining are far greater. Global greenhouse pollution is on the rise - and therefore coal consumption - must be reduced radically. In case, we fail to stop pollution, then catastrophic climate change impacts such as major sea-level rise, agricultural collapse, massive species extinction and social upheaval will become unavoidable.