Environmental impact analysis of a coalfield

Coal is the primary source of energy in India, but it is observed that environmental pollution is severe in coalfield areas in the country. A comprehensive environmental impact analysis (EIA) is necessary in order to understand the impacts and their inter-relationships and to test alternative policies for pollution control. This paper presents a case study of EIA of a coalfield. An eclectic approach consisting of expert opinion, content analysis, SIAM, opinion surveys and Delphi surveys are used to identify the impacts. Interpretive structural modelling method is used to structure the inter-relationships among the impacts. System dynamics method is used to analyse the inter-relationships and to test the viability of alternative pollution control methods.