Environmental impacts of coal mining and mitigation measures: a review

This study aims to elucidate the hazards associated with the coal mining sector and its repercussions on various environmental components. Research publications from academic databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, served as the basis for this review. Though economically feasible, coal extraction devastates the landscape, biodiversity, and natural habitats. Acidic trailing, excavation of the overburden rock, and associated biogeochemical alterations (like acid mine drainage) alter the landscape of the area concerned and pollute air, water, and soil. Heavy metal pollution can be mitigated with the use of remediation techniques such as biological (biosorption and bioaugmentation), chemical (using alkaline waste and chemical neutralization), and physical barriers (use of limestone filters and constructed wetlands). Despite global efforts and numerous techno-legal measures to address this issue, completely replacing coal with alternative energy sources remains a significant challenge that must be addressed.