Kamal Guha: Removed some red links from the intro

2023-06-23T04:08:46Z

Removed some red links from the intro

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	'''Raniganj Coalfield''' is primarily located in the [[Asansol subdivision~~\|Asansol]]~~ and [[Durgapur subdivision~~\|Durgapur]]~~ subdivisions of [[Paschim Bardhaman district]] of [[West Bengal]]. It spreads over to the neighboring districts of [[Birbhum district~~\|Birbhum]]~~, [[Bankura district~~\|Bankura]]~~, [[Purulia district~~\|Purulia]]~~ and to [[Dhanbad ~~district\|Dhanbad]]~~ district of [[Jharkhand]].		'''Raniganj Coalfield''' is primarily located in the Asansol subdivision and[Durgapur subdivision subdivisions of [[Paschim Bardhaman district]] of [[West Bengal]]. It spreads over to the neighboring districts of Birbhum district, Bankura district, Purulia district and to Dhanbad district of [[Jharkhand]].

	==History==		==History==

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2021-01-26T02:34:39Z

Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: hyphenate params (1×);

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{{Infobox mine
| name = Raniganj Coalfield
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal
| pushpin_label = Raniganj
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal
| coordinates = {{coord|23|37|44|N|87|06|54|E|region:IN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place =
| subdivision_type = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| state/province = [[West Bengal]]
| country = [[India]]
| owner = [[Eastern Coalfields Limited]]
| official website = http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/
| acquisition year = 1975
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products =
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year =1774
| closing year =
}}
'''Raniganj Coalfield''' is primarily located in the [[Asansol subdivision|Asansol]] and [[Durgapur subdivision|Durgapur]] subdivisions of [[Paschim Bardhaman district]] of [[West Bengal]]. It spreads over to the neighboring districts of [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]], [[Bankura district|Bankura]], [[Purulia district|Purulia]] and to [[Dhanbad district|Dhanbad]] district of [[Jharkhand]].

==History==
[[File:Raniganj Coalfield 1867.jpg|thumb|left|Raniganj Coalfield in 1867]]
Coalmining in India first started in the Raniganj Coalfield. In 1774, John Sumner and [[Suetonius Grant Heatly]] of the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] found coal near [[Ethora]], presently in [[Salanpur (community development block)|Salanpur]] community development block. The early exploration and mining operations were carried out in a haphazard manner.<ref name=akkori>Akkori Chattopadhyay, ''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' , Vol I, pp. 46-51, Radical, 2001, {{ISBN|81-85459-36-3}}</ref>

Regular mining started in 1820, led by an agency house, Alexander & Co. In 1835, [[Dwarkanath Tagore|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, Ranigunj coalfields was the major producer of coal in the country.<ref name=akkori/>

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 [[Dishergarh|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]].<ref name=akkori/><ref name="ecl">{{cite web | url=http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/corporate.html | title=Eastern Coalfields Limited | publisher = Eastern Coalfields Limited | access-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

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."<ref>W.W.Hunter, ''The Indian Empire: Its People, History and Products'', first published 1886, reprint 2005, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, {{ISBN|81-206-1581-6}}</ref>

==Present 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.<ref name="ecl" />

Raniganj Coalfield covers an area of {{convert|443.50|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and has total coal reserves of 49.17 billion tonnes, spread across Indian states of West Bengal and Jharkhand.<ref name="ecl" /> That makes it the second largest coalfield in the country (in terms of reserves).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geologydata.info/coal_01.htm |title=Coal Resources of india |publisher=geologydata.info |access-date=2008-08-31 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="ecl" />

ONGC’s preliminary assessment of [[Coalbed methane|coal-bed methane]] indicates that four Damodar Valley coalfields – Jharia, Bokaro, North Karanpura and Raniganj – to be the most prospective.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://fossil.energy.gov/international/Publications/cwg_nov05_cbm_kanchan.pdf | title = Coal Bed Methane | work = CBM Potential in India | publisher = Eastern Coalfields Limited| access-date = 2008-08-26 }}</ref>

==Performance Highlights==
Raniganj Coalfield produces the best quality of non-coking coal in India, with average ash percentage of less than 20%. The main features of this coal are high volatile content, long flame, quick ignition and high heat value. The following are the highlights for [[fiscal year]] 2012-13:<ref name="ecl" />

* Coal Production = 33.90 million tonnes
* Annual Turnover = {{INRConvert|12076.17|c}}
* Profit Before Tax = {{INRConvert|1897.18|c}}
* Manpower = 72,973
* Number of operating mines = 98
** Number of [[Mining#Underground mining|underground mines]] = 77
** Number of [[Open-pit mining|opencast mines]] = 21

==Operating areas==
A broad area-wise distribution of coalmines of Eastern Coalfield Limited is given below:<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.easterncoal.gov.in/contactus/cugtel.html|title = Area-wise Closed User Group (CUG) Telephone Number | publisher= Eastern Coalfields Limited| access-date = 11 August 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Area ||Collieries
|-
|[[Bankola Area|Bankola]]||Bankola Colliery, Khandra Colliery, Kumardih A Colliery, Kumardih B Colliery, Moira Colliery, Nakrakonda Colliery, Shankarpur Colliery, Shyamsundarpur Colliery, Tilaboni Colliery
|-
|[[Jhanjra]]||Main Industrial Complex (MIC), I & II Incline, I & B Incline, 3 & 4 Incline
|-
|[[Kajora Area|Kajora]]||Central Kajora Colliery, Jambad OCP, Jambad UG, Khas Kajora Colliery, Lachipur Colliery, Madhusudanpur Colliery, Madhabpur Colliery, Naba Kajora Colliery, Porascole Colliery
|-
|[[Kenda Area|Kenda]]||Bahula Colliery, Chora Block Incline, CL Jambad Colliery, Chora OCP, Haripur Colliery, Lower Kenda Colliery, New Kenda Colliery, Siduli Colliery, SK OCP, West Kenda OCP
|-
|[[Kunustoria Area|Kunustoria]]||Amritnagar Colliery, Amrasota Colliery, Bansra Colliery, Belbaid Colliery, Kunustoria Colliery, Mahabir OCP, N. Searsole Colliery, Parasea Colliery, Parasea 6 & 7 Incline, Parasea OCP
|-
|[[Mugma Area|Mugma]]||Badjna Colliery, Bermury OCP, Chapapur Colliery, Gopinathpur Colliery, Hariajam Colliery, Kumardhubi Colliery, Khoodia Colliery, Kapasara Colliery, Lakhimata Colliery, Mandman Colliery, Rajpura OCP, Shampur B
|-
|[[Pandaveswar Area|Pandaveswar]]||Dalurband Colliery, Khottadih OCP, Khottadih UG, Mandhaipur Colliery, Manderbony Colliery, Pandaveswar Colliery, South Samla Colliery
|-
|Rajmahal||Lalmatia Coalfield in Godda, Jharkhand
|-
|[[Salanpur Area|Salanpur]]||Bonjemehari Colliery, Barmondia Colliery, Dabor, Gourandi Colliery, Gourandi Begunia Colliery, Mohonpur OCP
|-
|[[Satgram Area|Satgram]]||Chapui Khas Colliery, JK Nagar Project, Jemehari Colliery, Kalidaspur Project, Kuardi Colliery, Nimcha Colliery, Pure Searsole Colliery, Ratibati Colliery, Satgram Project, Satgram Incline
|-
|[[Sodepur Area|Sodepur]]||Bejdih Colliery, Chinakuri 1 & 2 Colliery, Chinakuri 3 Colliery, Dhemomain Incline, Dhemomain Pit, Dubeswary Colliery, Methani Colliery, Mouthdih Colliery, Narsamuda Colliery, Parbelia Colliery, Patmohona Colliery, Sodepur Colliery
|-
|[[Sonpur Bazari]]||Sonpur Bazari Project
|-
|S.P.Mines||Chitra in Deoghar, Jharkhand
|-
|[[Sripur Area|Sripur]]||Bhanora West Block Colliery, New Ghusick Colliery, Kalipahari Colliery, Ningha Colliery, S.S.I. Colliery,
|-
|}
<small>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. </small>

==See also==
* [[Deocha Pachami coal block]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Paschim Bardhaman topics}}
{{Damodar Valley}}
{{Coalfields}}

[[Category:Coalfields of India]]
[[Category:Mining in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Paschim Bardhaman district]]

Raniganj Coalfield - Revision history

Kamal Guha: Removed some red links from the intro

imported>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 4 templates: hyphenate params (1×);