US EPA

1673195 

Journal Article 

Impact of opencast coal mining on the air environment 

Sekhar, MC; Rao, GA 

1997 

2487-2493 

WOS:A1997BJ46T00421 

Environmental deterioration due to :Large-scale coal mining, transportation and small scale utilisation activities in the Manuguru Coal belt area of Andhra Pradesh has become a matter of concern like any other industrial area in India. The study area, Manuguru region consists of two opencast (OC) mines and three underground mines. The Manuguru OC-II is the biggest mine yielding about 60% of the total coal production of the area, and is mainly responsible for the environmental degradation in the area. Hence, it ic necessary to assess the environmental status of the study area based upon the air quality data, wastewater characteristics and noise levels in the study area. Air around an opencast coal mine is polluted due to various unit operations like drilling, blasting, removal of over burden or coal, transportation of over burden or coal operations at coal handling plant etc. Air quality study undertaken in the area covering important locations has evinced that pollution has been increasing over the years and its impact will be certainly adverse in the coming years. Seasonal and diurnal variation of air pollutants namely suspended particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen is presented in the paper. Overall air quality is also obtained from the Oak Ridge Air Quality Index The probable environmental impacts of mining on the air environment are predicted with the hell, of available data.