A Critical Study on the Management of Innovative Fugitive Coal Dust Pollution Control Practices for a Cleaner Industrial Environment

The entire world including India is inevitably dependent on coal-based energy. Thus, the consumption of coal happens to be maximum and most frequent in comparison to other minerals. But the consumption of coal gives rise to exploitation of coal in situ and thus increases the dust create from the same. Not only the coal dust is produced at the extraction site, the sources are multiple including the transportation, dumping sites etc. The very nature of coal in terms of self-combustion and self-heating aggravates the working environment in industries giving rise to hazards and health problems. The traditional practices of suppressing and controlling fugitive dust are having their own limitations and deficiencies. Therefore, the policymakers, the concerned authorities as well as the industry personnel are constantly searching for innovative approaches which can give better dividends. In this regard, many experiments and techniques proven to be successful to a substantial extent. However, the management of these techniques has to be multi-dimensional and multifaceted. This study conducted at different coal mines in Odisha has been an attempt to understand the deficiencies in the current practices and the benefits of adopting innovations in controlling the fugitive dust polluting air and other environmental elements. This also examines the managerial implications on practicing the innovations towards making a cleaner and industrial environment.