STUDIES OF THE AREA AROUND SINGRAULI COAL FIELD & ENERGY BELT, DISTRICT SIGRAULI, MADHYA PRADESH INDIA

The geoenvironmental studies in the area around Singrauli coalfield in parts of Sidhi district, M.P. were taken up by the authors. An area of about 1000 sq. km., was covered bounded by latitudes 24° 00¢ to 24°15¢ and longitudes 82°8¢ 25² to 82° 50¢ in parts of survey of India toposheet Nos. 63L/7, 8. 11, 12, 15 and 16 on scale 1:50,000, supplemented by air photo and Landsat imagery studies. Geologically the area is occupied by Achaeans, Bijawars (Sidhi group) and Gondwana Supegroup of rocks (Lower Gondwanas) and Quaternary sediments. Geomorphologically, the area is comprised of ten surfaces among these, two are Quaternary surfaces and eight are Pre- Quaternary surfaces. These surfaces are characterized by distinct elevation, slope, drainage, pedogenetic characters, land form elements and morphogenetic expression. The groundwater occurs in the area in three distinct geological formations viz Bijawar, Gondwana Supergroup and Quaternary deposits. The Gondwana and Quaternary deposits form good groundwater aquifers, both at shallow and deeper levels and contain adequate water potential at an average depth of about 65 m. Though the area posses good potential of groundwater inspite there is dislocation in hydro-ecology due to extensive development of energy belt ,power corridor associated industrialization and urbanization. The study of various land use aspects in the area with the help of different thematic maps indicates that an area about 335 Sq. km (33.5%) is occupied by forest 475 Sq. km. (47.5%), by agriculture land 100 Sq, km (10%), by mining area 75 Sq. km (7.5%), by industries 54 Sq. km. (5.4%), 255 Sq, km (25.5%) by dissected land / land degradation and an area of about 160 sq, km (16%) is occupied by water bodies. Deforestation of the area is excessive and it is anticipated that about 88 Sq, km. area will suffer deforestation by over all mining activity. It is about 23% of existing forest reserve. As a corrective measure and to keep balance in various factors of ecosystem, an area of about 190 Sq. Km is suggested for environmental forestry. The scarification of agricultural land is anticipated to be of the order of about 200 Sq, km, as a result of mining activities, industrialization, urbanization and industry based settlements. It is about 14.50% of existing agricultural land. The Singrauli area has estimated reserves of coal of about 9000 million tones. The proposed target of coal production by 2020 was about 210 million tones and in ideal conditions it is expected to be 250 m. tones where it will generate overburden of the order of about 3400 million cubic metres. The scarification of land, forest and waste generation is going to be staggering and alarming which need advanced planning of waste management. The establishment of mining industry, super thermal power plants and other coal based industries have resulted in the loss of top soil of an area about 75 Sq, km, it is about 7.5% of the area studied and has aggravated the problem of land degradation. The estimated area of land degradation by natural processes and man-made activities is about 255 sq. km., it is about 25.5% of the area investigated. It includes an area of about 75 sq, km. of ravines (badland area), of 100 sq, Km. of quarriable mine, 75 sq, km, loss of top soil by mining, coal based industries and their establishments and 5 sq, km for other mass wasting activities. The land degradation in the area by natural processes has posed a serious problem to agricultural land, road, railway lines and other built up features, whereas the man made land degradation has reduced the area of infiltration of rain water and has created siltation problems for Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar. The generation of overburden by coal mining is estimated to be of the order of 3400 million cubic metres . It can be disposed of by dumping it in the ravenous tract around Manihari, Taldah, Gigri and south of Suhare. It will help in reclaiming these areas and will prevent further erosion of land. The surface and subsurface water and top soil of the area is being polluted by mining activities, industrial effluents, disposal of mining waste, ash ponds and other pollutants. The air around Singrauli coalfield shows high concentration of SO2, NO2, CO, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and hydrocarbons. It is due to coal mining activities, excessive emission of smoke and fly ash from super thermal power station and other coal based industries. The noise level has been maintained below 90 dz as observed by NTPC and mining authorities. It appears to be at higher side due to excessive mine, blasting, coal transportation and coal handling operations of industries, super thermal power station and vehicular traffic. The coal mining activities and rapid industrialization in the area around Singrauli coal field has also resulted in migration of wild life habitats and local tribal population.

本研究由作者团队针对印度中央邦西迪县部分区域的辛格拉乌里煤田（Singrauli Coalfield）周边地区开展地质环境调研。调研覆盖面积约1000平方千米，地理边界介于北纬24°00′至24°15′、东经82°8′25″至82°50′，涉及印度测量局（Survey of India）1:5万比例尺地形图图幅编号63L/7、8、11、12、15及16，并辅以航空摄影与陆地卫星（Landsat）影像解译工作。

地质层面，该区域出露地层包括太古界（Archean）、比贾瓦尔群（Bijawar Group，西迪群Sidhi Group）、冈瓦纳超群（Gondwana Supergroup，下冈瓦纳岩系Lower Gondwanas）及第四纪沉积物（Quaternary Sediments）。地貌上可划分为10类地貌面，其中2类为第四纪地貌面，8类为前第四纪地貌面，各类地貌面均以独特的高程、坡度、水系格局、成土特征、地貌组分及地貌成因表征作为区分标志。

区域地下水赋存于比贾瓦尔群、冈瓦纳超群与第四纪沉积物三类地质建造中，其中冈瓦纳超群与第四纪沉积物分别构成浅层与深层优质地下水含水层，平均埋深约65米处即可获取充足地下水资源。尽管该区域地下水资源禀赋优良，但由于能源带、电力走廊相关的工业化与城市化进程快速推进，区域水文生态系统已出现明显紊乱。

通过各类专题地图分析土地利用结构，结果显示：林地约335平方千米，占比33.5%；耕地约475平方千米，占比47.5%；采矿用地约100平方千米，占比10%；工业用地54平方千米，占比5.4%；侵蚀退化区域255平方千米，占比25.5%；水体面积160平方千米，占比16%。

该区域森林砍伐问题突出，据预测全域采矿活动将导致约88平方千米的林地遭到砍伐，占现有林地储备的23%。为修复生态、维持系统平衡，建议划定约190平方千米的区域开展环境林业建设。

辛格拉乌里煤田煤炭探明储量约90亿吨，原规划至2020年煤炭产量达2.1亿吨，理想工况下可达2.5亿吨，届时将产生约34亿立方米的采矿排土量。排土可倾倒至马尼哈里、塔尔达、吉格里以及苏哈雷南部的侵蚀劣地区域，实现土地复垦，遏制土地进一步侵蚀。

煤炭开采、超临界火电站及其他煤化工产业已对区域环境造成多重负面影响：地表与地下水、表层土壤均受到采矿活动、工业废水、采矿废弃物堆放、灰场及其他污染物的污染；周边大气中二氧化硫（SO₂）、二氧化氮（NO₂）、一氧化碳（CO）、悬浮颗粒物（SPM）及碳氢化合物浓度均偏高，主要源于煤炭开采活动、过量烟尘与粉煤灰排放。据印度国家热电公司（NTPC）与采矿管理方监测，区域噪声水平已控制在90分贝以下，但由于采矿爆破、煤炭运输、工业运营及道路交通活动频繁，实际噪声水平仍偏高。

煤炭开采与快速工业化进程还导致当地野生动物栖息地与原住民部落种群发生迁移。经估算，区域因自然过程与人为活动导致的土地退化面积约255平方千米，占调研区域的25.5%，其中包括75平方千米的冲沟劣地、100平方千米的可采矿区及54平方千米的工业用地。

该区域土地退化问题主要包括自然过程与人为活动导致的侵蚀劣地、采矿剥离物堆放、工业用地占用及水体污染等，其中人为土地退化已削弱了雨水入渗能力，导致戈文德·巴拉布·潘特萨加尔（Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar）出现泥沙淤积问题。本研究同时指出，区域土地退化与生态破坏问题已较为严峻，需尽快开展环境修复与土地复垦工作。