Ecological Imbalance in Surguja Coal Field Area Due to Mining: A Case Study

 

Milan Hait¹* and Shivi Sharma²

¹Dept. of Chemistry, Dr. C.V. Raman University, Kargi Road, Kota, Bilaspur, C.G. 495113.

²Dept. of Chemistry, Govt. College Bishrampur, Surguja District, C.G.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: milan_hait@yahoo.co.in; shivisharma2010@gmail.com

The present investigation has been focused in Bishrampur and Bhadgao regions of Surguja Coal field area since these are major coal mining areas of Surguja district which are prone for ecological imbalance. The sampling method was based on primary and secondary data collection during the research study in three areas namely Coal mining area, Forest area, and Urban area. The water samples were collected in the month of November’2010 from hand pumps, tube wells and  ponds, were considered under primary data collection technique and its Temperature, p^H, E.C, T.S, TDS, TSS, Alkalinity, TH,  D.O, BOD, COD, F⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ etc. were  determined  using  pH meter, titration, water analyzer and spectrophotometer etc. It was found that deteriorating water quality due to mining, continued to ruin the health standards of local people, reduced the number of flora and fauna, reduced the agricultural land area and it constrained farmers to migrate, this led to increased entropy in ecology of Bishrampur and Bhadgao regions causing an ecological imbalance.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ecology is the science of bionomics i.e. the relationship between organism and its environment. Environment refers to the sum of the total conditions which surround a given system in space and time. Ecology (from Greek: ekcos "house"; -logy, "study of"). In Greek ecology means study of house i.e. a system in the surroundings. Water is an important asset of ecology, since life without water is impossible. Scarcity and lack of pure drinking water in the ecology will create disorder leading to ecological imbalance. Water is the most essential commodity for human consumption without it no life can exist.  Pure drinking water resources are dwindling due to deforestation, mining and industrialization. Approximately 71% of the earth surface is covered with water, mainly in the form of oceans. Around 2% of the water is present in glacier and ice caps. The actual fresh water is available for human consumption is around 1% of the total earth water. Ground and surface water used by man are of different characteristics.

 

Ground water contains dissolved minerals from the soil layers through which it passes. Surface water contains a lot of organic matter and mineral nutrients^1-3. Domestic waste includes human excreta, paper cloths, soap and detergents etc. these are the major part of water pollutants. Uncontrolled dumping of wastes of rural areas, towns and cities into the ponds, lake and stream of rivers, is being observed. Due to accumulation of sewage and other wastes into the water resources this is no longer remain recyclable; as a result their self regulatory capability is lost. Water being polar solvent has the property to dissolve those polar impurities.  The decomposition of these wastes is largely on aerobic process which in turn takes up more and more oxygen from water rendering it low oxygen content^4-6.

 

Bishrampur is located 28kms away from Ambikapur in Surguja district, Chhattishgarh. The average rain fall in this area is 1100 mm. Bhadgao village is situated in north-eastern side of Bishrampur and 20kms away from it. Many open and underground mining centers are located in an around Bishrampur. However the last decade has seen large scale unregulated SECL mining, residential and commercial expansion, over straining the water resources and generally defunct civic amenities.

 

 

Table 1:  Water Quality of Bishrampur region

Parameter/ sampling spot	Surface water			Underground water			IS: 10500 Limit in (units and ppm)
	BP1	BP2	BP3	BW1	BW2	BW3
Temperature	27.0	28.6	29.5	26.0	26.0	25.0
PH	7.60	7.67	7.61	6.5	6.80	7.10	6.5-8.5
Conductivity	764	769	775	750	786	749
TS	2246	2360	2463	1860	1669	1780	500-2000
TDS	1905	1760	1862	1662	1348	1261	500-2000
TSS	120	400	109	198	346	505	20-50
Alkalinity	602	598	493	636	679	511	200-600
Total Hardness	708	652	614	710	646	605	300-600
D.O	3.6	3.4	3.0	2.9	3.1	2.8	5
B.O.D	9.8	7.1	9.3	6.8	6.2	8.7	5
C.O.D	11.05	13.01	15.05	13.50	11.11	12.05	10
F−	1.45	1.40	1.23	1.35	1.20	1.29	0.5-1.5
Cl−	441	989	873	1021	1261	668	250-1000
SO42−	253	345	298	301	398	251	200-400
NO3−	62	61	79	58	67	54	45

BP₁−Pokhra Talab, BP₂− Talab near Jainagar, BP₃−GauriShankar Mandir Talab, BW₁−Well near Railway Station,

BW₂−Hand Pump near Jainagar, BW₃−Tube well near SECL hospital.

 

Table 2 :  Water Quality of Bhadgao region

Parameter/ sampling spot	Surface water			Underground water			IS: 10500 Limit in (units and ppm)
	BhP1	BhP2	BhP3	BhW1	BhW2	BhW3
Temperature	29.0	27.0	27.0	25.0	26.0	26.0
PH	7.1	7.2	6.9	6.9	6.7	6.6	6.5-8.5
Conductivity	754	762	769	750	716	749
TS	2054	2546	1963	1856	1966	1875	500-2000
TDS	1960	1654	1862	1662	1340	1161	500-2000
TSS	99	400	101	198	321	519	20-50
Alkalinity	602	598	493	636	654	511	200-600
Total Hardness	688	612	554	712	621	521	300-600
D.O	4.0	3.80	3.1	2.9	3.1	2.7	5
B.O.D	9.8	7.1	10.5	6.8	5.9	8.7	5
C.O.D	10.05	12.01	14.05	13.50	11.11	12.05	10
F−	1.39	1.00	1.23	1.35	1.21	1.29	0.5-1.5
Cl−	441	1012	883	1121	1111	467	250-1000
SO42−	261	293	205	301	402	251	200-400
NO3−	58	61	87	58	67	76	45

BhP₁ –Pond near Kalyani UG mine , BhP₂ –Bhadgao Durga Mandir Talab, BhP₃ –Talab near Bhadgao-Bishrampur road, BhW₁ –Tube well near Sivani Khadan, BhW₂ –Tube well Near Jharia Chowk  BhW₃−Tube well near Mission School.

 

Due to excessive mining in Bishrampur (Vishrampur) and Bhadgao and its surrounding areas air, water and soil are continuously getting polluted, so it is necessary to analyze the extent of pollutant present in the water in these areas and accordingly find remedy for it since it is primary requirement for living species.^7-9  

 

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

We have selected some ponds and bore wells in Bishrampur and Bhadgao regions for our investigation. The analysis was carried out by the standard protocol^10-19 as mentioned below. Sampling spot for water analysis were named as BP₁, BP₂, BP₃ , BhP₁, BhP₂, BhP₃ (for surface water) and BW₁, BW₂ , BW_3, BhW₁, BhW₂, BhW₃ (for underground water). Water sample were collected in 2 lit Polyethylene jerry canes previously soaked with 8M HNO₃ and then cleaned with detergent followed by rinsing with double distilled water. The collected water sample were preserved in ice cooled chamber and kept in the dark room^14-15. The entire chemicals used in the analysis were LOBA/BDH grade. Double distilled water was always used in the analysis and in all the solution preparation. All the glassware were graduated and calibrated, manufactured by Borosil, India.  

The following parameters were analyzed using standard procedures; Temperature, p^H, E.C, T.S, TDS, TSS, Alkalinity, TH, D.O, BOD, COD, F⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ etc. Some parameters like Temperature, P^H, E.C, TDS, D.O etc. were analyzed instantly in the sampling spot and the others were analyzed in the laboratory of pollution Control Board, Bilaspur, C.G. The results are tabulated in the table 1 below. Temperature, p^H, E.C, TDS and D.O were measured With Electronic India made nine parameter analyzer kit (Model No.172). Total hardness was determined by complexometric titration with standard EDTA as titrant in the presence of EBT indicator. TS was determined by gravimetrically while TSS was determined by subtracting TS and TDS. BOD was determined by incubation method and COD was determined by reflux method. Cl⁻ was determined by AgNO₃ titration method using K₂Cr₂O₇ as indicator (Vogel and Bassett, 1978). SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ were determined by spectrophotometrically (HACH DR/2010, UK).

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

In and around Bishrampur and Bhadgao small and large mining fields are located. The underground drinking water quality in these regions continues to decline due to excessive underground mining .Owing to mining, aerosols containing mixed inorganic matter along with carbon particles are contaminating different water system by mixing with water and finally causing pollution. The increasing pollution has increased the rate of vaporization of water too. Therefore we took this small project to assess the water quality status of various areas of Bishrampur and Bhadgao regions. We selected main surface water at Bishrampur named as Pokhra Talab (BP₁), Talab Near Jainagar (BP₂), Gaurishankar Mandir Talab (BP₃) and Tube well Near Railway Station(BW₁), Hand Pump Near Jainagar (BW₂), Tube well  Near SECL Hospital (BW₃)   respectively. We also selected main surface water at Bhadgao named as Pond Near Kalyani UG Mine (BhP₁), Bhadgao Durga Mandir Talab (BhP₂), Talab near Bhadgao-Bishrampur Road (BhP₃) and Tube well Near Sivani Khadan(BhW₁), Tube well Near Jharia Chowk (BhW₂), Tube well near Mission School (BhW₃)   respectively. The results of the various selected parameters are tabulated in the table 1 and 2 for Bishrampur and Bhatgao areas respectively and are discussed as follows:

 

a)    Water Quality at Bishrampur region:

The p^H, TDS, D.O, F⁻ and SO₄²⁻ of all the water samples, TS of BW₁ - BW₃, Alkalinity of   BP₂ - BP₃, Cl⁻ of BP₁ - BP₃ and BW₃ were found within desirable limits. Conductivity, TSS, Total Hardness, BOD, COD, NO₃⁻ of all samples, Temperature of BP₂, TS of BP₁ – BP₃, alkalinity of BhP₁ and BW₁ – BW₂, Cl⁻ of BhP₂ and BW₁ – BW₂ were found higher than the maximum permissible limits. COD Values of all water samples are high is a definite indication of coal dust accumulation due to mining.

 

b)    Water Quality at Bhadgao region:

The p^H, TDS, D.O, F⁻ of all samples, SO₄²⁻ of BhP₁ - BhP₃ , BhW₁  and BhW₃, TS of BhP₃ and BhW₁ - BhW₃ , Total Hardness of  BhP₃ and BhW₃ , Cl⁻ of BhP₁, BhP₃ and BhW₃  were found within the desirable limits. Conductivity, TSS, BOD, COD, NO₃⁻ of all samples, Temperature of BhP₁ , TS of BhP₁ and BhP₂, Alkalinity of BhP₁ and BhW₁ - BhW₃, Total Hardness of BhP₁ – BhP₂ and BhW₁ – BhW₂, Cl⁻ of BhP₂ and BhW₁ – BhW₂ were found higher than the maximum permissible limits.

 

CONCLUSION:  

The value of some physico-chemical parameter (Temperature, TS, TDS, TSS, alkalinity, Total hardness, BOD, COD, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ etc.) in the study of pond waters and bore well waters is higher than the recommended limit is an indication of pollution hazards. Both surface water and underground water are polluted. All these sampling locations are contaminated due to various mining activities, like coal washery, heavy transportation of coal by trucks, coal dumping and loading station and formation of dust due to blasting. The elevated values of these parameters are of great concern to public health when the water from these bore wells are consumed by people without treatment. Above results conclude that ecological imbalance has occurred in Bishrampur and Bhadgaon regions of Sarguja district due to mining. This can be minimized by proper water treatment and management.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are grateful to Mr. S. K Verma, Junior Scientist and Mr. C. B. Patel, Regional officer, Pollution Control Board, Bilaspur for their kind help and providing research facilities to carry out the research work.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Sinha Shrada, Shukla Manisha, Siddiqui Arif and Agarwal Neeraj; “A Text Book of Environment and Ecology for Pharmacy Students”, 1^st ed, A. I. T. B. S Publishers, Delhi, pp 1-17 (2008).

2.       De AK; “Environmental Chemistry”, 4^th ed ; New Age International (P) Ltd; New Delhi ; pp. 3-7 (2003).

3.       Dr. Pandey Piyush Kant and Gupta Deepti; “Environment and Ecology”, 2nd ed, Sun India publications, New Delhi, pp 1.2-4.9 (2005).

4.       Sachan Nikhil K, Puskar Seema and Mishra Ashutosh; “Environment and Ecology”, 1^st ed, Birla Publication Pvt. Ltd, Delhi, pp 1-13 (2009-2010).

5.       Subramanium V; “A Text Book Environmental Science”, 3^rd Reprint, Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 64 (2007).

6.       Verma, R.M; “Analytical Chemistry Theory and Practice”, 3^rd (ed), CBS Publisher and Distributors, New Delhi, pp 461-466 (2000).

7.       http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishrampur

8.       http://www.districtsofindia.com/chhattisgarh/surguja/environmentandforest/index.aspx http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/Report_AISMR.pdf

9.       http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=23.3537708andlon=83.2206416andz=15andl=0andm=bandtag=949

10.     Warhate, SR et al ; J. Env. Sci. and Engg. , vol. 48 (2), 81-90 (2006).

11.     Shastri, GN, Singh N. K and Das C; Current World Environment, vol 3(1), pp 211-212 (2008)..

12.     Clesceri, LS, A.E. Greenberg and A.D. Eaton, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed., American Public Health Association, USA, pp: 1325 (1991).

13.     APHA, AWWA and WPCF; Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th ed. American Public Health Association/American Water Works Association/ Water Environment Federation, Washington DC, USA. (1995).

14.     De AK; Environmental Chemistry 6^th ed , New Age International (P) Ltd, New Delhi, pp 207-208 (2006).

15.     Rand, MC, Greenberg and Taras ; Standard methods for examination of water and waste water, American Public Health Association, 14^th ed., Washington D.C. USA, pp 42-43 (1976).

16.     HACH, Spectrophotometer Handbook DR/2010. Procedure Manual, Hach Company, UK (2000).

17.     Vogel, AI and J. Bassett, Textbook of Inorganic Analysis. 4th Edn, Longman, London, pp: 962 (1978).

18.     Allen, SE, Grimshaw, H. M, Parkinson, J. A, Quarmby, C, Chemical Analysis of Ecological Materials. Blackwell Scientific Publishing, Oxford.  pp.314 (1974).

19.     Ewing, GW, Métodos Instrumentais de Análise Química (Instrumental methods for chemical analysis), 1st Ed. Edgard Blucher, São Paulo, Brasil, pp. 296 (1972).   

 

 

Received on 09.06.2013       Modified on 24.06.2013

Accepted on 30.06.2013      © AJRC All right reserved