Jharia coal fires and greenhouse gases emission

The persistence of underground fires in the Jharia coalfields of Jharkhand is a critical environmental and public safety issue, with research indicating that the scope of these fires—and their associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—may be significantly higher than previously understood.

Mechanism of Collapse and Emission

Recent studies, including those involving the CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), have highlighted the role of “collapse structures” in these coalfields. As underground fires consume coal seams, the overlying rock strata become destabilized and collapse. These structures can extend vertically for over 100 meters, effectively creating chimneys that vent hot gases, including nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and methane (CH4), directly into the atmosphere.

Environmental and Health Impact

The Jharia coalfield fires have been active since 1916. The continuous, uncontrolled combustion of coking coal releases massive volumes of GHGs, contributing to climate change and localized air quality degradation. Exposure to the resulting particulate matter and toxic gases poses significant health risks to surrounding populations, including respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, mining-induced subsidence remains a major hazard, with specific towns like Tisra, Chhatatanr, and Sijua identified as particularly vulnerable to land surface collapse due to the underlying fire activity.

Management and Mitigation Challenges

Managing these fires is complex due to the difficulty of detecting and monitoring subsurface activity. While traditional methods like borehole drilling are used to confirm cavities, modern remote sensing techniques—such as Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)—and IoT-based sensor networks are increasingly being deployed to map fire-prone areas and monitor air quality in real time. Despite these advancements, the fires remain a persistent threat, with approximately 73% of fire-affected areas showing long-term persistence, complicating efforts at land reclamation and ecological restoration

Sources: TH & Others