 Potential Hazard of Coal Mining and Hard Rock Mining

1.1- Introduction Availability of natural resources and their proper application to overall development activities is the key factor for the economic growth of any nation. Bangladesh, though it is a small country of about 143,998 sq km, has a number of mineral resources within its territory. The mineral resources so far discovered are mineral fuels (oil, gas, coal, peat), hard rock, limestone, white clay, glass sand and heavy mineral sands. It was previously assumed that the geological setting of Bangladesh was more suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation than for any other mineral deposits as the greater part of Bangladesh is covered by thick alluvium. Nowadays, the assumption has been changed as it is proved by detailed geological and geophysical explorations that Bangladesh is rich not only in hydrocarbon accumulation but that it also has huge deposits of coal and hard rock in its north-northwestern part.

1.2- Mines in Study Area The northern part of Bangladesh has some natural advantage. Natural resources are one of them. Coal, hard rock, white clay, stone etc are found here. These natural resources are directly contributes in our national economy. Among various natural resource, only two natural resources and their management status was observed.  Hard rock- Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mining Company Limited (MHMCL), Dinajpur.  Coal- Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL), Dinajpur.

1.2.1- Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mining Company Limited (MHMCL) This company formed to accelerate the construction works of Maddhyapara mine and operate the Maddhyapara Hard Rock Mine Project of Petrobangla at Dinajpur in August 1998. The underground mine under construction at Maddhyapara targets for production of 1.6 million tons of construction rocks per annum. Until June 2000, 58% of the mine construction works were completed and the project was scheduled to complete construction works within June 2001. Currently the project authority is trying to extend the project