Impact of Coal Mining on Vegetation: A Case Study in Jaintia Hills ...

IMPACT OF COAL MINING ON VEGETATION: A CASE STUDY IN JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT OF MEGHALAYA, INDIA3. Materials and Methods3.1. Study AreaThe Jaintia Hills district <strong>of</strong> Meghalaya is bestowed with rich natural vegetation as well as large reserve<strong>of</strong> mineral resources. During the last few decades, there have been phenomenal increases in mining <strong>of</strong>coal, limestone, sillimanite and clay causing large-scale destructions and deterioration <strong>of</strong> the naturalvegetation. The district has been most extensively extracted in terms <strong>of</strong> coal, among all districts <strong>of</strong> thestate. Excessive mining operation <strong>of</strong> coal in many parts <strong>of</strong> the district has been responsible for theconversion <strong>of</strong> original lush green landscape <strong>of</strong> the area into mine spoils. The crude and unscientificmethod <strong>of</strong> mining adopted by the primitive operators in several parts <strong>of</strong> the district has caused severeecosystem destruction. Uncontrolled and unscientific mining operation within the district has beendetrimental to the fragile ecosystem. It is <strong>of</strong> urgent need to understand the impact <strong>of</strong> mining on thevegetation characteristics <strong>of</strong> the district for further management plan.For the present study an area <strong>of</strong> approximately 420 km 2 was delineated in the core <strong>of</strong> the coal miningareas <strong>of</strong> the district (92°13'52''E to 92°25'16''E longitudes and 25°16'7''N and 25°27'28''N latitudes).Lad Rymbai (25°21'53.2''N and 92°19'15.8''E), the major centre for coal mining was taken as thecentre <strong>of</strong> the study area.3.2. MaterialsIRS Satellite data for four different years period <strong>of</strong> 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2001 were used for temporalanalysis. The data used are Landsat MSS for 1975, Landsat TM for 1987, Landsat ETM+ for 1999and IRS-1D-LISS III data for 2001 (Figure 3.1, Figure 3.2, Figure 3.3, Figure 3.4).The ancillary data used for the study are topographic maps <strong>of</strong> the study area, GSI map, GPS andCompass.The s<strong>of</strong>tware used are ERDAS IMAGINE 8.7, ArcGIS, ILWIS 3.2 and MS Office.3.3. Research MethodsTo fulfil the objectives following methods will be adopted:3.3.1. Study InitiationIdentification <strong>of</strong> study area followed by literature review.3.3.2. Pre-Field WorkDelineation <strong>of</strong> study area followed by reconnaissance survey.3.3.3. Field and Post-Field WorkAnalysis and interpretation <strong>of</strong> four different years satellite data with the help <strong>of</strong> remote sensing andGIS.21