Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Fire in Jharia Coalfield, Jharkhand, India:An Appraisal


Affiliations
1 Mine Fire Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad 826 015, India
2 Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826 001, India
3 Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001, India
 

Phenomenon of coal mine fire has a long history on international magnitude in the destruction of valuable natural resources. It dominantly contributes towards adverse impact on environment. Societal influence in terms of health and life hazard is one of the key factors in mine fire areas. This paper focused on socio-economic and environmental impacts of fire in Jharia coalfield (JCF), Jharkhand, India. Issue related to mine fire in various legislations (Mines Act 1952, Coal Mine Regulation 1957, etc.) has been discussed with a view to overcome such situations. A few mitigative measures and proper management of coal mine fire has also been suggested.

Keywords

Coalfields, Coal Mine Fire, Safety and Environment, Subsidence.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • World Coal Institute, The coal resource: a comprehensive overview of coal, London, UK, 2015; http://www.worldcoal.org
  • World Coal Association, 30th Anniversary Report, 2015 on Coal and Electricity, London, UK; http://www.worldcoal.org/coal/ uses-of-coal/coal-electricity
  • Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Coal Production and Supply Report, 2015; www.coal.nic.in
  • Yu, D., Xu, M., Sui, J., Liu, X., Yu, Y. and Cao, Q., Effect of coal particle size on the proximate composition and combustion properties. Thermochim. Acta, 2005, 439, 103–109; doi: 10.1016/ j.tca.2005.09.005.
  • World Bank Report, India – Coal Sector Rehabilitation Project INPE9979. Public Information Center of the World Bank, Washington, DC, 1997, pp. 1–8.
  • Kumar, S., Vision of Coal India for future. In Proceedings of the 1st Asian Mining Congress (Asian mining: towards a new resurgence), (eds Bose, L. K. and Bhattacharya, B. C.), The Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India, Kolkata, 16–18 January, 2006, pp. 3–12.
  • Indian Bureau of Mines, Indian Minerals Yearbook 2011, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, October 2012.
  • World Coal Association, Coal Facts 2011; http://www.worldcoal.org/resources/coal–statistics/
  • Coal India Limited; https://www.coalindia.in/en-us/performance/physical.aspx
  • Mandal, A. and Sengupta, D., The analysis of fatal accident in Indian coal mines. Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, Technical report, 2000; https://faculty.franklin.uga.edu/amandal/sites/faculty. franklin.uga.edu.amandal/files/Fatal_accidents_in_Indian_Coal_Mines.pdf
  • INDIASTAT, Accident in coal mines from 1981–2004; http://www.indiastat.com/crimeandlaw/6/mineaccidentsquarrydisaster/17902/accidentsincoalmines19812014/449320/stats.aspx
  • Yang, C., Li, X., Ren Y., Zhao, Y. and Zhu, F., Statistical analysis and counter measures of gas explosion accident in coal mines. Proc. Eng., 2014, 84, 166–171.
  • Mohalik, N. K., Singh, V. K. and Singh, R. V. K., Application of carbon dioxide for controlling subsurface fire area: Indian context. J. Min. Sci., 2009, 45(4), 390–397.
  • Li, X., Xu, H., Wang, P. and Song, X., Study on the evaluation system for the coal safety management based on risk pre-control. J. Coal Sci. Eng. (China), 2009, 15(1), 108–112; doi: 10.1007s12404-009-0122-9.
  • Statistics of Mines in India, Volume 1 (Coal), DirectorateGeneral of Mines Safety, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, 2011.
  • Nolter, M. A. and Vice, D. H., Looking back at Centria coal fire: a synopsis of its present status. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2004, 59, 99–106.
  • Rain, G., Cohen, S. and Simeoni, A., Carbon emissions from smoldering peat in shallow and strong fronts. Proc. Combust. Inst., 2009, 32, 2489–2496.
  • Mohalik, N. K., Panigrahi, D. C. and Singh, V. K., Application of thermal analysis techniques to assess proneness of coal to spontaneous heating: an overview. J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 2009, 98, 507–519; doi: 10.1007/s10973-009-0305-z.
  • Prakash, A. and Gupta R. P., Surface fire in Jharia coalfield, India – their distribution and estimation of area and temperature from TM data. Int. J. Remote Sensing, 1999, 20, 1935–1946.
  • Walker, S., Uncontrolled fire in coal and coal wastes: International Energy Agency Report, London, CCC/16, 1999, p. 72.
  • Stracher, G. B. and Taylor, P. T., Coal fire burning out of control around the world: thermodynamic recipe for environmental catastrophe. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2004, 59, 7–17.
  • Sinha, A. and Singh, V. K., Spontaneous coal seam fires: a global phenomenon. In International Conference on International Research for Sustainable Control and Management on Spontaneous Coal Seam Fires: Mitigation a Global Disaster, Beijing, P.R. China, 29 November–1 December 2005, pp. 42–66.
  • Cao, D., Fan, X., Guan, A., Wu, C., Shi, X. and Jia, Y., Geological models of spontaneous combustion in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China. Rev. Eng. Geol., 2007, XVIII, 23–30.
  • Pandey, J., Mohalik, N. K., Mishra, R. K., Khalkho, A. Kumar, D. and Singh, V. K., Investigation of the role of fire retardants in preventing spontaneous heating of coal and controlling coal mine fires. Fire Technol., 2015, 51(2) 227–245; doi: 10.1007/s10694012-0302-9.
  • Gangopadhyay, P. K., Application of remote sensing in coal-fire studies and coal fire related emission. Rev. Eng. Geol., 2007, XVII, 239–348.
  • Singh, R. V. K. and Singh, V. K., Mechanized spraying device – a novel technology for spraying fire protective coating material in the benches of opencast coal mines for preventing spontaneous combustion. Fire Technol., 2004, 40, 355–365.
  • Banerjee, S. C., Status of R&D on coal mine fires and its challenges. In Proceedings, Seminar on Prevention and Control of Mine and Industrial Fires: Trends and Challenges, Kolkata, 1996, pp. 21–42.
  • Singh, T. N., Pradhan, S. P. and Vishal, V., Stability of slope in a fire prone opencast mine in Jharia coalfield, India. Arab. J. Geosci., 2013, 6, 417–427.
  • Stracher, G. B., Coal fires: a burning global recipe for catastrophe. Geotimes, 2002, 47(10), 36–66.
  • Tripathi, A. K. and Gautam, M., Biochemical parameter of plants as indicators of air pollution. J. Environ. Biol., 2007, 28, 127–132.
  • McNay, L. M., Coal refuge fires: an environmental hazards. 29 (USBM) Information Circular (IC)-8513, 1971, p. 50.
  • Kim, A. G., Relative self heating tendency of coal, carbonaceous shale and coal refuge, USBM, Report of Investigations-9537, 1995, p. 21.
  • Clayton, J. L., Geochemistry of coalbed gas – a review. Int. J. Coal Geol., 1998, 35, 159–173.
  • Su, S. and Agnew, J., Catalytic combustion of coal mine ventilation air methane. Fuel, 2006, 85(9), 1201–1210.
  • Dubey, B., Pal, A. K. and Singh, G., Trace metal composition of airborne particulate matter in the coal mining and non–mining areas of Dhanbad Region, Jharkhand, India. Atmos. Pollut. Res., 2012, 3, 238–246.
  • Mishra, A. K, Maiti, S. K. and Pal, A. K., Status of PM10 bound heavy metals in ambient air in certain parts of Jharia coal field, Jharkhand, India. Int. J. Environ. Sci., 2013, 4(2), 141–150.
  • Pandey, B., Agrawal, M. and Singh, S., Assessment of air pollution around coal mining area: emphasizing on spatial distributions, seasonal variations and heavy metals, using cluster and principal component analysis. Atmos. Pollut. Res., 2014, 5, 79– 86; doi: 10.5094/APR.2014.010.
  • Mishra, R. K., Roy, P. N. S., Pandey, J., Khalkho, A. and Singh, V. K., Study of coal fire dynamics of Jharia coal field using satellite data. Int. J. Geomatics Geosci., 2014, 4(3), 477–484.
  • Singh, T. N., Impact of coal mining on greenhouse gases and their role in global warming. Indian J. Ecol., 1995, 10(4), 27–33.
  • Finkelman, R. B., Potential health impacts of burning coal beds and waste banks. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2004, 59, 19–24.
  • Kim, A. G., Greenhouse gases generated in underground coal mine fires. Rev. Eng. Geol., 2007, XVIII, 1–13.
  • IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme (eds Eggleston, S. et al.), Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES), vol. 4, 2006.
  • Gervet, B., Coal fire emission contributes to global warming. Renewable Energy Research Group, Division of Architecture and Infrastructure, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, SE-97187, 2007.
  • Vishal, V., Pradhan, S. P. and Singh, T. N., Instability analysis of mine slope by finite element method approach. Int. J. Earth Sci. Eng., 2010, 3(6), 11–23.
  • Gee, E. R., History of coal mining in India, Geological Survey of India, 10 August 1940, VI(3), 313–318; http://www.new1.dli.ernet.in/data1/upload/insa/INSA_1/20005b80_313.pdf
  • Mohalik, N. K., A study of the spontaneous heating of Indian coals, Ph D thesis, The University of Nottingham, USA, 2013, pp. 3–8.
  • Pandey, J., Kumar, D., Mishra R. K., Mohalik, N. K., Khalkho, A. and Singh, V. K., Application of thermography technique for assessment and monitoring of coal mine fire: a special reference to Jharia coalfield, Jharkhand, India. Int. J. Adv. Remote Sensing GIS, 2013, 2(1), 138–147 (article ID-93).
  • BCCL, Mine fires in the Jharia Coalfield. Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Project and Planning Division, Dhanbad, 1991, pp. 1–17.
  • Dhar, B. B., Keynote address on status of mine fires – trends and challenges. In Seminar on Prevention and Control of Mine and Industrial Fires – Trends and Challenges, Kolkata, 21–22 December 1996, pp. 1–8.
  • Michalski, S. R., Custer Jr, E. S. and Munsi, P. L., Investigation of Jharia coalfield mine fire – India. In Vision 2000, 14th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Austin, Texas, 10–16 May 1997, pp. 211–223.
  • Mohalik, N. K., Singh, R. V. K., Sural, G., Barnwal, R. P., Pandey, J. and Singh, V. K., Environmental impacts of coal mine fire during excavation of developed galleries by opencast method. Indian Min. Eng. J., 2004, 33, 30–35.
  • Morris, R. and Atkinson, T., Geological and mining factors affecting spontaneous heating of coal. Min. Sci. Technol., 1986, 3, 217–231.
  • Misra, B. K. and Singh, B. D., Susceptibility to spontaneous combustion of Indian coals and lignites: an organic petrographic autoscopy. Int. J. Coal Geol., 1994, 25, 265–286.
  • Banerjee, S. C., Textbook on Prevention and Combating Coal Mine Fires, Oxford & IBH, New Delhi, 2000, pp. 33–34.
  • Song, Z., Zhu, H., Jia, G. and He, C., Comprehensive evaluation on self-ignition risks of coal stockpiles using fuzzy AHP approaches. J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 2014, 32, 78–94.
  • Beamish, B., Comparison of the R70 self-heating rate of New Zealand and Australian coals to Suggate rank parameter. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2005, 64, 139–144.
  • Wolf, K.-H. and Bruining, H., Modeling the interaction between underground coal fires and their roof rocks. Fuel, 2007, 86, 2761–2777.
  • Wessling, S., The investigation of underground coal fires – towards a numerical approach for thermally, hydraulically, and chemically coupled processes. Ph D thesis, Westfälische Wilhelms-University of Muenster, Germany, 2007.
  • Avila, C. R., Predicting self-oxidation of coals and coal/biomass blends using thermal and optical methods. Ph D thesis, University of Nottingham, UK, 2012.
  • Pandey, J., Kumar, D., Mohalik, N. K., Mishra, R. K., Khalkho, A. and Singh, V. K., Managing coal mine fire for workplace safety: case study. Minetech. J., 2012, 33(4), 33–44.
  • Pandey, J., Mishra, R. K., Khalkho, A., Singh, R. V. K. and Singh, V. K., Thermography technique: a versatile tool for assessment and monitoring of coal mine fire – Jharia Coalfield (JCF). Minetech. J., 2011, 32(3), 33–41.
  • Sarkar, B. C., Mahanta, B. N., Saikia, K., Paul, P. R. and Singh, G., Geo-environmental quality assessment in Jharia coalfield, India using multivariate statistics and GIS. Environ. Geol., 2007, 51, 1177–1196; doi: 10.1007/s00254-006-0409-8.
  • Gupta, N., Syed, T. H. and Athiphro, A., Monitoring of subsurface coal fires in Jharia coalfield using observations of land subsidence from differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR). J. Earth Syst. Sci., 2013, 122(5), 1249–1258.
  • CSIR-CIMFR, Development of comprehensive technology for disaster prevention and management for Jharia coalfield, CSIRCentral Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, Project report of 10th five-year network project COR-19 funded by Planning Commission, Government of India, April 2012.
  • Fox, C. S., The rise of Jharia coalfield, Mining and Geological Institute of India, Geological Survey of India, Technical Report, 1929, XXXIV, 97–105.
  • Saxena, N. C. and Singh, B., Investigation into the safety of railway lines against ground movement due to extraction of two thick coal seams in India. In Proceedings, 21st US Symposium on Rock Mechanics, University of Missouri, Rolla, MO, September 1980, pp. 345–354.
  • Prasad, R. M., An appraisal of subsidence problems in the Jharia Coal field. In Proceedings International Symposium on Land Subsidence, Dhanbad, 11–15 December 1989, 1, 207–229.
  • Sinha, P. R., Subsidence problems of Bharat Coking Coal Limited – an overview. In Proceedings International Symposium on Land Subsidence, Dhanbad, 11–15 December 1989, 1, 7–25.
  • Michalski, S. R., The Jharia mine fire control technical assistance project: an analysis. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2004, 59, 83–90.
  • Munsi, P. L., Experience of dealing with fire In Jharia coalfield – introduction to diagnostic technique, in National seminar on Mine Fires, Department of Mining Engineering, IIT-BHU, Varansi, 24–25 February 1995, 82–90.
  • National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad, report on coal mine fire delineation and surface features mapping using satellite data in Jharia coal field, Dhanbad Jharkhand, December 2006.
  • Prasad, S. N., Rao, M. N. A. and Mukharjee, A., Mine planning – a step towards modernization of coal mining in India, CMPDIL, Ranchi, 1984, pp. 73–85.
  • Majumdar, R., Environmental monitoring of Jharia coalfield, Jharkhand India using multi-polarization SAR and Interferometric SAR data, M. Tech thesis, IIRS, Dehradun, 2013, pp. 10–20.
  • Report on Master plan for dealing with fire, subsidence and rehabilitation in lease holds of BCCL, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited, Regional Institute, Dhanbad, 2008.
  • Schori, A., Scrymgeour, A. H. and Munshi, P. L., Environment management plan for the Jharia coal field. In Proceedings 14th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Austin, TX, 10–15 May 2004.
  • Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL Ranchi), Master plan for dealing with fire, subsidence and rehabilitation in the leasehold of BCCL, Dhanbad, 2006, pp. 1–84.
  • Winmill, T. F., Atmospheric oxidation of iron pyrites. Trans. Inst. Min. Eng., 1915–16, 51, p. 500.
  • Graham, J. I., Pyrites as a cause of spontaneous combustion in coal mines. Trans. Inst. Min. Eng., 1923–24, 67, 100.
  • Hodge, D. J. and Hinsley, F. B., The influence of moisture in spontaneous heating of coal. Min. Eng., 1964, 40.
  • Roy, T. R., Evaluation of spontaneous fire risk potential of underground coal mine panels. CIM Bull., 1996, 96(1073), 63–67.
  • Munzer, H. (eds), In Textbook of Coal Petrology (edss Stach, E. et al.), Gebruder Borntrager, Berlin, 1975, 2nd edn, pp. 387–388.
  • Banerjee, S. C., Scope of application of biotechnology for fire control and ameliorating environmental pollution in coal mines. J. Mines Metal Fuels, 1995, XLIII(1&2), 17–21.
  • Smith, M. A. and Glasser, D., Spontaneous combustion of carbonaceous stockpiles. Part II, Factors affecting the rate of the lowtemperature oxidation reaction. Fuel, 2005, 84, 1161–1170.
  • Song, Z. and Kuenzer, C., Coal fires in China over the last decade: a comprehensive review. Int. J. Coal Geol., 2014, 133, 72– 99; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2014.09.004.
  • Kok, A. and Kolenbroei, Report WSK/2780-55. KEMA, Arnhem, The Netherlands, 1981.
  • Schmal, D., Spontaneous heating of stored coal. In Chemistry of Coal Weathering (ed. Nelson, C. R.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1989, pp. 133–215.
  • Rosema, A., Guan, H. Y., Veld, H., Vekerdy, Z., Ten Katen, A. M. and Prakash, A., Manual of Coal Fire Detection and Monitoring, The Netherlands Institute of Applied Geosciences (TNO), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1999.
  • Wike, K., Die Selbstentzündung der Kohle und ihre Einflußfaktoren, die Feststellung der Neigung der Kohle zur Selbstentzündung und die meßtechnischen Verfahren der Früherkennung. Ph D thesis, Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany, 1966.
  • Schmal, D., A model for the spontaneous heating of stored coal, Ph D thesis, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, 1987.
  • Kolker, A. et al., Emissions from coal fires and their impact on the environment, United State Geological Survey report, September 2009.
  • MoEF, Comprehensive environmental assessment of industrial clusters. Ministry of Environmental and Forests, Government of India, 2009; http://moef.nic.in/downloads/publicinformation/ Industrial Clusters_env_assessment.pdf
  • Terblanche, A. P. S., Opperman, L., Nel, C. M. E., Reinach, S. G., Tosen, G. and Cadman, A., Preliminary results of exposure measurements and health effects of the Vaal Triangle air pollution health study. S. Afr. Med. J., 1992, 81, 550–556.
  • Pone, J. D. N., Hein, K. A. A., Stracher, G. B., Finkelman, R. B. and Annegarn, H. J., Potential environmental and health impacts of burning coal in Witbank Coalfield, International Conference on South Africa, International Research for Sustainable Control and Management on Spontaneous Coal Seam Fires: Mitigation a Global Disaster, Beijing, P.R. China, 29 November–1 December 2005, pp. 94–102.
  • Tripathi, N., Rathoure, D., Sah, S., Tripathi, P. S. M. and Singh, G., Environmental effect of coal burning in thermal plants: incidence of radio actives in fly ash and in soil. In Proceedings of National Seminar on Mine Ventilation, Safety and Environment, CMRI, Dhanbad 29–30 November 2001, pp. 521–528.
  • MoEF, India’s initial national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, 2004; http:// www.moef.nic.in
  • Collins, W., Human-induced climate change: improved knowledge and continuing uncertainties. In American Geophysical Union Fall 2000 Meeting, AGU Press Conference Release No. 00-29A, San Francisco, 17 December 2000.
  • Perkins, S., Pollution in India may affect climate. Sci. News, 2001, 159(1), 15.
  • Mishra, R. K., Pandey, J., Chaoudhry, S. K., Khalkho, A. and Singh, V. K., Estimation of air pollution concentration over Jharia coalfield based on satellite imagery of atmospheric aerosol. Int. J. Geomatics Geosci., 2012, 2(3), 723–729.
  • Khanna, A. A., Governance in coal mining: issues and challenges. TERI-NFA Working Paper 9, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, August 2013.
  • Priyadarshi, N., Effects of mining on environment in the state of Jharkhand, India – mining has caused severe damage to the land resources, 2010; http://www.ismenvis.nic.in
  • Pal, A. K., Jain, M. K. and Paul, B., Jharia coal field: a retrospection, MINENVIS, June-September 2011, no. 69–70, pp. 1–6.
  • Singh, R. V. K. and Singh, V., Status of mine fire of Jharia coal field and suggestion for prevention and control, CMTM J., 2004, 9(6), 38–44.
  • CIL, Report on Corporate Social Responsibility. Coil India Ltd, 2012, pp. 27–28.
  • Directorate General of Mines Safety, a Statutory Body Under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India (Mines Act-1952, CMR-1957, Circulars); www.dgms.gov.in
  • Central Pollution Control Board, MoEF, GoI; www.cpcb.nic.in
  • India map, Maps of India; www.mapsofindia.com
  • Stracher, G. B., Prakash, A. and Sokol, E. V., Coal and Peat Fires: A Global Perspective, Vol. 1, Coal-Geology and Combustion, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, USA, 2007.
  • Pandey, J., Kumar, D. and Singh, V. K., Detection and monitoring of coal mine fire in Jharia coal field (JCF): an integrated approach on old problem. Int. J. Earth Sci. Eng., 2015, 8(5), 256–260.

Abstract Views: 997

PDF Views: 221




  • Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts of Fire in Jharia Coalfield, Jharkhand, India:An Appraisal

Abstract Views: 997  |  PDF Views: 221

Authors

Jitendra Pandey
Mine Fire Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad 826 015, India
Dheeraj Kumar
Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826 001, India
Virendra Kumar Singh
Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi 110 001, India
Niroj Kumar Mohalik
Mine Fire Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad 826 015, India

Abstract


Phenomenon of coal mine fire has a long history on international magnitude in the destruction of valuable natural resources. It dominantly contributes towards adverse impact on environment. Societal influence in terms of health and life hazard is one of the key factors in mine fire areas. This paper focused on socio-economic and environmental impacts of fire in Jharia coalfield (JCF), Jharkhand, India. Issue related to mine fire in various legislations (Mines Act 1952, Coal Mine Regulation 1957, etc.) has been discussed with a view to overcome such situations. A few mitigative measures and proper management of coal mine fire has also been suggested.

Keywords


Coalfields, Coal Mine Fire, Safety and Environment, Subsidence.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv110%2Fi9%2F1639-1650