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, INDIAprevailing in the coal-mined areas has reduced the chances <strong>of</strong> regeneration <strong>of</strong> species, thereby,reducing the number <strong>of</strong> species in the mined areas. The number <strong>of</strong> herbaceous species colonizing inthe mined areas were found to be higher than in the unmined areas. Species like Pinus kesiya, Schimawallichii, Persea odoratissima, Eupatorium adenophorum, Lantana camara, Melastoma nepalensis,Rubus ellipticus, Rubus khasiana, Paspalum orbiculare, Plantago erosa, Gnaphalium pensylvanium,Isachne himalaica, Ageratum conyzoides, Borreria articularis dominate in mined areas and thesespecies can grow in the degraded environment. The Shannon-Weaver index <strong>of</strong> diversity for trees andshrubs was lower in the mined areas. On the other hand, the diversity index for herbaceous speciesincreased with mining proximities suggesting that mining operation favoured colonizing <strong>of</strong> certainspecies in newly created habitats.The mining <strong>of</strong> coal initiated in Jaintia Hills district <strong>of</strong> Meghalaya in early 1970s. Since then the mininghas been increasing and the area affected by coal mining is increasing day by day. A considerableportion <strong>of</strong> the forest area was converted into non-forest. The dense forest areas converted into the openforests and there was gradual decrease <strong>of</strong> these two forest types during the course <strong>of</strong> time. The areaunder low risk i.e., low fragmentation area, decreased significantly with time. The area under nonforestincreased with time. About 68 km 2 <strong>of</strong> the study area (16 percent) were identified as the areas atrisk. These high fragmentation areas are located in the proximity to mining.The present study revealed that coal mining has adversely affected the vegetation in the coal miningareas <strong>of</strong> Jaintia Hills district. Such habitats do not permit proper plant growth and development.The present study led to the conclusions that phytosociological analysis can be used as important toolsfor predicting the suitability <strong>of</strong> mine spoil habitats for the plant growth. The information gathered onvarious aspects <strong>of</strong> vegetation and colonization <strong>of</strong> plants in mined areas would be helpful inrevegetating the mined areas. The change analysis can be useful in finding out the change <strong>of</strong> trend <strong>of</strong>different land use/ land covers. To understand the land use dynamics related to vegetation and miningthis method can be applied. It helps to delineate the vegetation areas under risk due to miningactivities.It is evident from the above discussion that the mining activities in Jaintia Hills district is detrimentalto the vegetation and general environment <strong>of</strong> the district. It is advisable that such activities have to bestrictly regulated to avoid further damage and scientific mining has to be taken up in a proper mannerto minimize the damage to the vegetation as well as the environment. Appropriate rehabilitationmeasures using the plants that grow in the mine areas need to be taken up in the mine-affected areas.The findings <strong>of</strong> the study could be quite useful while formulating the Management Plan for the district.69