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Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel resource in India, and the country's industrial and economic heritage has been built upon indigenous coal. India is the world's 3rd largest energy consumer after China and USA. However, as the country goes through profound economic and societal transformations, such as economic and population growth, urbanization and industrialization, energy demand is expected to increase substantially. Looking into the significance of coal not only in the energy-mix but also in the economic development of India, the paper is aimed at an assessment of coal sector in India which shall also help contextualize the place of coal in India's contemporary energy, industrial and social sectors amidst a range of developments - both national and international - related to coal sector. The authors looked into various aspects of Indian coal sector from a policy perspective and suggested subsequent course of action so the same can be used by Indian coal mining stakeholders towards the larger goal of sustainable growth of coal sector including coal mining. The analysis produced important policy recommendations for coal industry stakeholders including the Indian Government, who is the sovereign owner of coal mine acreage in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal will continue to play a major role in economic development of India with particular reference to energy. The significant resources of coal in comparison with other fossil fuels have enabled this valuable mineral to remain at the centre stage of India's energy scene. This paper presents the detailed laboratory investigations in terms of characterization; size analysis and washability studies carried out on a typical high ash non-coking coal sample and suggest the concept of beneficiation for the improvement in the quality of run-of-mine (ROM) coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsidence is the motion of a surface as it shifts downward relative to a datum caused by various manmade and natural activities. Most of the coalfields of India are facing significant subsidence problem due to underground coal mining. Extraction of thick seams at shallow depths has damaged the ground surface in the form of subsidence and formation of cracks reaching up to the surface, enhancing the chances of spontaneous heating of coal seams leading to mine fires. A proposed alignment of Giridih-Koderma broad gauge (BG) railway track neat Giridih Railway station lies above old, abandoned underground coal mine workings. This site lies at the southern fringe of the Giridih coalfield (also known as Karharbari formation). The mining was commenced in 1871, first by the Bengal Coal Co., then by the National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC) and lastly by the East India Railway and it was closed in 1936. Bord and pillar mining method was practiced in this mine and it was closed without any de-pillaring and backfilling. The present undulating topography depicts the existence of subsidence at different parts of the coalfield. Total 117 boreholes were drilled for investigating the ground condition and to evaluate ground stability for laying railway tracks to run MBG (1987) train load along the proposed layout above the basin. The paper deals with the causes and subsidence potentiality over old abandoned underground coal mines neat Giridih town of Karharbari formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]