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.