Coalmining in India first started in the Raniganj Coalfield. In 1774, John Sumner and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the British East India Company found coal near Ethora, presently in Salanpur community development block. The early exploration and mining operations were carried out in a haphazard manner.[1]
Regular mining started in 1820, led by an agency house, Alexander & Co. In 1835, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore bought over the collieries and Carr, Tagore and Company led the field. For the entire 19th century and a major part of the 20th century, Raniganj coalfields was the major producer of coal in the country.[1]
At the behest of William Princep, Carr, Tagore and Company joined hands with Gilmore Hombray and Co. in 1843 to form Bengal Coal Company, which opened up coal mining activities. Their headquarters was at Sanctoria. Other mining companies included Birbhum Coal Co., Equitable Coal Co., Madhu Roy and Prasanna Dutta Co., Bird and Co., South Barakar Coal Co., Andrew Yule and Company Ltd. and Balmer Lawrie.[1][2]
In 1886, W.W.Hunter wrote, "Raniganj Coalfield has been estimated at an area of 500 square miles. In this ‘black country of India’, which is dotted with tall chimney stalks, many European companies are at work, besides many native firms. At first coal was raised from open workings; but regular mining is now carried on, according to the system known as ‘pillar and stall’… The miners are all drawn from the aboriginal races, chiefly Santals and Bauris, who are noted for their endurance and docility."[3]
2008 status
All non-coking coal mines were nationalized in 1973 and placed under Coal Mines Authority of India. In 1975, Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, was formed. It took over all the earlier private collieries in Raniganj Coalfield.[2]
Raniganj Coalfield covers an area of 443.50 km2 (171.24 sq mi) and has total coal reserves of 49.17 billion tonnes, spread across Indian states of West Bengal and Jharkhand.[2] That makes it the second largest coalfield in the country (in terms of reserves).[4] Out of the total reserve, 30.61 billion tonnes is in the West Bengal and 18.56 billion tonnes is in Jharkhand.
Coal seams
In the Raniganj Coalfield the coal seams can be divided into two blocks – Raniganj measures and Barakar measures. The following areas of ECL are covered by the Raniganj measures: Raniganj-Pandaveswar, Kajora, Jhanjra, Bankola, Kenda, Sonepur, Kunustoria, Satgram, Sripur, Sodepur and Salanpur (partly). Barakar measures cover two areas of ECL: Salanpur and Mugma.[2]
ONGC’s preliminary assessment of coal-bed methane indicates that four Damodar Valley coalfields – Jharia, Bokaro, North Karanpura and Raniganj – to be the most prospective.[5]
Key 2013 figures
The following are the highlights for fiscal year 2012-13[2]
Bhanora West Block Colliery, New Ghusick Colliery, Kalipahari Colliery, Ningha Colliery, S.S.I. Colliery,
Note: All the linked Area pages provide relevant details of the collieries and carry maps indicating the location of the collieries. All the operational areas are in Raniganj Coalfield, except Rajmahal and S.P. Mines.
^W.W.Hunter, The Indian Empire: Its People, History and Products, first published 1886, reprint 2005, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, ISBN81-206-1581-6
