Impacts of Coal mining: a Review of Methods and Parameters Used in India

Abstract

This review presents a systematic synthesis of the various methods and measures that have been used to investigate the effects of coal mining in India. A total of 87 peer-reviewed articles were collected for each year from 1970 to 2014 using a keyword based search. The articles compiled were analyzed and categorized according to the parameters addressed and the methodological approach adopted. Quantitative analyses were conducted to indicate the gap areas. Results indicate that research concerning air pollution, water pollution, land use pattern and environmental impacts are the best represented while soil, forest and human health are very poorly represented. Land cover change studies have experienced a rapid surge however studies on socio-economic and human health impacts are very few in number. Majority of the studies mostly used remote sensing and change detection techniques. For a genuine and thorough interpretation of coal mining impacts, it is quite important to understand the direct as well as the far-reaching environmental and social consequences of coal mining. This article identifies the areas that have been well documented and primarily it emphasizes the areas that require further research in the Indian scenario.