A Contemplation On Pitlakes of Raniganj Coalfield Area: West Bengal, India

Abstract

Pitlakes (PLs) form when surface mines close and open pits filled with water, either through groundwater recharge, surface water diversion or active pumping. The primary goal of this study was to prepare an inventory of PL in Raniganj coalfield (RCF), West Bengal, India, along with the status of water quality in these PLs for promoting sustainable utilization of the PL resources for socioeconomic development of the local stakeholders in due course of time. A total of 40 PLs were enumerated and characterized to determine their nature, position, depth, area and comparative account in RCF during the period of 2014–2017. A consecutive 2-year study of physicochemical parameters of water and soil was recorded at 27 selected mine PLs to understand its quality. A total of 30 species belonging to 21 families of frequent hydrophytes/marginal plant species dominating these PLs were observed. successional stages of plant species were noticed and grouped in accordance with their growth pattern. During the study period, the 15 most frequently cultured/naturally occurred fish species under 4 orders, 5 families and 14 genera were collected and identified from the PL. After the analysis of PL water quality and questionnaire survey of the local stakeholders, we have recorded that developmental pisciculture project can be started in 25 PLs. PLs aged over 20–30 years turned naturally into wetland ecosystem harbouring a good amount of aquatic biota, excellent water quality and stabilized embankment. Sixty species of wetland birds (with terrestrial counterparts in the adjoining floral habitat) belonging to 15 orders and 34 families were recorded. The main findings of this work was to explore the ecological health status, study the ecological census of PL in RCF, exploration of ecological health status of the PL on, accessibility of the biological resources of PL.