| Article Title |
An Analyze the Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining in Giridih District |
| Author(s) | Raja Kumar Thakur, Dr. Surbhi Sahu. |
| Country | India |
| Abstract | Coal mining in Giridih district, Jharkhand, has triggered extensive environmental and social transformations. Land use and land cover analysis reveals significant conversion of forest and agricultural land into mining pits, spoil dumps, and industrial infrastructure, leading to habitat fragmentation and erosion. Water resources are degraded by mine drainage and spoil leachates, resulting in elevated total dissolved solids, sulfates, iron, and occasional acidity, which compromise drinking water safety and irrigation potential. Soil quality has declined due to topsoil removal, compaction, and heavy‑metal contamination, reducing fertility and crop productivity. Air quality monitoring indicates frequent exceedances of PM2.5 and PM10, especially during dry seasons, with direct implications for respiratory health. Biodiversity assessments show reduced species richness, shrinking forest patches, and weakened ecosystem services such as fuelwood, fodder, and non‑timber forest products. Community surveys highlight increased respiratory and water‑borne illnesses, higher healthcare costs, loss of agricultural livelihoods, and dependence on precarious mining or informal work. |
| Area | Economic Geography |
| Issue | Volume 2, Issue 4 (October - December 2025) |
| Published | 2025/11/29 |
| How to Cite | Thakur, R.K., & Sahu, S.. (2025). An Analyze the Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining in Giridih District. Cosmos: A Journal of Geography, 2(4), 26-33, DOI: https://doi.org/10.70558/COSMOS.2025.v2.i4.25434. |
| DOI | 10.70558/COSMOS.2025.v2.i4.25434 |
Cosmos: A Journal of Geography
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