Korba Coalfield is located between latitudes 220 15’ N and 220 30’ N and longitudes 820 15’ E and 82055 ’ E. Korba Coalfield covers an area of about. According to Geological Survey of India, total reserves of non-coking coal in Korba Coalfield was 10,074.77 million tonnes, out of which 7,732.87 was up to a depth of 300 m and 2,341.90 million tonnes was at a depth of 300–600 m. Coal mined at Korba coalfield generally has the following characteristics – moisture: 4.5–7.4 per cent, volatile matter: 27.9–39.2 per cent, fixed carbon: 34.1–47.7 per cent, ash content: 11.2–31.6 per cent.
Operations
Though coal has been mined in Korba coalfields since 1941, large scale production could be initiated only on completion of the Champa-Korba rail link in 1955. Open cast mining activities in the Korba Coalfield are now being carried out. Korba Coalfield accounts for a major portion of coal mined by South Eastern Coalfields Limited. The 2010 production of SECL was 101.15 tonnes, out of which 73.35 tonnes came from Korba Coalfield. Sub-areas of Korba Coalfield are: Korba, Surakachhar, Rajgamar, Manikpur, Dhelwadih, Kushumunda and Gevra. The major working coalmines are: Surakachhar, Banki, Balgi, Rajgamar, Pavan, Manikpur, Dhewadih, Singhali, Bagdeva, Kusumunda, Laxman, Gevra and Dipka.
Gevra opencast coal mine situated in Korba district of Chhattisgarh is considered as the largest coal mine of India in terms of area and the production capacity. - Apparently Gevra coal mine is also largest coal mine of Asia and the second largest coal mine of the world. - Gevra coal mine actually started its operation in 1981. View of India's largest coal mine. Mine Name : Gevra opencast Coal mine. Surface Area : 20 Square Kilometre. Parent Company : Coal In South Eastern Coalfields Limited Parent Company : Coal India Location :Korba, Chhattisgrah Production Capacity : 41 Million Tonnes/ Year Expansion planned : 70 Million Tonnes/ Year Coal type: Thermal Coal Gevra mine is an open cast mine complex at the town of Gevra that has been described as the largest open cast mine in India and Asia, as well as the world's second-largest. As of 2011 it has a capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. It was opened in 1981. During 1999–2000, it produced over 18 million tonnes of coal and removed 12 million m3of overburden. In 2000, Gevra mine had a plan to expand from 12 million tonnes per annum to 25 million tonnes per annum. Actual production was raised from 18 million tonnes to 26 million tonnes annually in 3½ years. SECL reported that on 18 March 2007, Gevra Open Cast Mine produced 100,000 tonnes of coal, the highest quantity of coal ever produced by any mine or coalfield in India on a single day. Expansion of capacity of Gevra mine from 35 million tonnes annually to 43.75 million tonnes annually has been awaiting environmental clearance since 2009.
Dipka Open Cast Mine
Dipka Open Cast Mine has an annual capacity of 25 million tonnes.
Kusmunda Open Cast Mine
Kusmunda Open Cast Mine has an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes.
Pollution
In a paper on "Assessment of impact of Coal and Minerals Related Industrial Activities in Korba Industrial Belt Through Spectroscopic Technique" by Rajesh Kumar, Gurdeep Singh and Asim Kumar Pal, the authors highlighted, "Korba Coalfield has been identified as one of the hot spots and the worst polluted area in India. There is widespread concern of air pollution due to emission of particulates from various mining and allied activities." The main sources of pollution in the Korba area are coal-based power plants, smelter and open cast mines at Gevra, Dipka and Kusmunda. Large scale transportation of coal raises a pollution problem. Amongst steps taken or underway to check pollution in the area are: widening and repairs of roads in Gevra, Dipka and Kusmunda mines and procurement of Continuous Ambient Air Monitoring Stations at Gevra and Dipka mines.
There is a pronounced degree of contamination in the coal from open cast mines. Such coal often has ash content averaging 40 per cent. Moreover, with multiple sources of supply, the quality is inconsistent. Even 6–8 per cent reduction in ash improves coal quality significantly. Coal preparation, or washing as it is commonly referred to, is both economical and environmentally beneficial. Coal washeries are being established in Korba Coalfields. ACB had set up a washery at Dipka in 1999, gradually upgrading capacity from 1 million tonnes per annum to 12 million tonnes per annum. The KJSL Coal Washery at Dhatura in Pali tehsil has an annual capacity of 2 million tonnes.
