Environmental Issues Due to Fire in Coal Mines: Its Impact and Suggestions for Implementing Precautionary and Control Measures

There are several factors responsible for polluting the environment and creating pollution; and especially in coalfields, fire in coal mines is one significant of them. Presently, about 70% of the production of coal is being carried out by opencast mining (from coal benches) over underground developed galleries in Jharia and its adjoining coalfields. Most of the mines developed earlier by underground are presently being excavated by opencast method to meet the production target. Due to intrinsic characteristics of coal with add-on of prevailing practices of mining operation, the spontaneous heating/fire has occurred in most of the galleries of developed coal seams. Fire in the developed galleries affects the normal production during excavation by the opencast method. It releases noxious gases, heat, smoke and dust and poses a serious health hazard. Fire in mines also causes direct loss of equipment, damage to the surface structure and loss of country’s precious coal reserves. In addition to these, it affects the normal production. The objective of this paper is to describe the environmental impacts due to fire in coal mines, and issues that affect society as well as to render suggestions for taking precautionary and control measures.