Analysis of air pollution problem around open cast coal mine and its impact on vegetation

Abstract

Coal mining is one of the core industries in India and plays a positive role in the economic development of the country. Its environmental impact cannot be ignored but, to some extent in unavoidable. Most major mining activities contribute directly or indirectly air pollution. One of the important issues of global concern in the problem related to the changes in environmental quality. Air environment is one of the vital components of environment on which the life depends alone and with combination to the other component of environment, air quality is critical to plant and human health alike. Coal being a primary source of energy plays a vital role in energy intensive economy such as India. Many developing countries, especially those dependent on oil imports to meet their energy requirement, lay great emphasis on the production and development of coal in order to fulfill their demand for energy. This has resulted in a considerable growth in coal mining in the recent decades. Exploration, Mining and benefaction of coal are associated with variety of environmental hazards. Coal mining especially opencast mining has substantial effect on environment. Research interest in environmental impact assessment around source of pollution has been consistent due to continued increasing rate of industrialization in the country. The present study was conducted around Jayant open cast coal mine situated at Jayant in sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh India, from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008. The study aimed at evaluating the impact of air pollution an ambient air quality, soil characteristics and performance of plants in area receiving different level of pollution load Performance of plants was evaluated on selected tree species which due to perennial nature show cumulative impacts of emission from pollution sources. In the Jayant coal mine area the concentration of So2 and No2 (Gaseous pollutant) and below the NAAQS, CPCB India at all the monitoring station but TSP and settled dust concentration were compound with National ambient air