• K VINAY CHAND
• Prof. P MADUSUDHANA REDDY

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel of India, it contributes about 61% of Indian electricity needs. Coal is produced in India by two different mining methods viz., Underground method and Opencast method. 92% of Coal Production in India is through Opencast Mining activity only. During opencast mining, Surface materials covering the valuable deposit considered as Over Burden(OB). The overlying soil is removed and the fragmented rock is heaped in the form of overburden dumps and covered with top soil. For sustainable mining, these dumps are to be biologically reclaimed. Biologically reclaimed overburden dumps of Gouthamkhani OCP is selected for the study and carbon sequestration studies were carried out for estimation of standing biomass (above ground and below ground), The above ground biomass (AGB) carbon stock consists of all living vegetation above the soil, inclusive of stems, stumps, branches, bark, seeds and foliage, while the below ground biomass (BGB) carbon stock consists of the biomass contained within live roots. Data is collected from 55 sample plots distributed over the entire study area, each sample plot covers an area of 0.1 Ha. Girth at breast height, Height and Crown size of trees recorded for each plot to arrive the total Carbon pool. The above study established that the total carbon pool in study area is 38,026 Tonnes, for the accumulation of above, 1,39,557 Tonnes of carbon dioxide is sequestrated by reclaimed plants of OB dumps and during the process 1,04,573 Tonnes of O2 is liberated.

Sustainable Mining, Biological Reclamation, Carbon Pool, Carbon Sequestration, Eco-restoration, Over Burden and Carbon stock

"Estimation Of Standing Biomass And Carbon Sequestration Studies At Biologically Reclaimed Overburden Dumps Of Goutham Khani Ocp", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 1, page no.a87-a95, January-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2301012.pdf

"Estimation Of Standing Biomass And Carbon Sequestration Studies At Biologically Reclaimed Overburden Dumps Of Goutham Khani Ocp", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 1, page no. ppa87-a95, January-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2301012.pdf