Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Land Management Practices in Post-Mining Landscapes of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

Coal mining has caused severe ecological degradation in Dhanbad, the coal capital of India, necessitating urgent restoration interventions. This study evaluates environmental quality and sustainable land management (SLM) practices in two post-mining sites—Mukunda Opencast Mining Project (MOCP) and Nagda Colliery—using Dudhia village as a control area. Field investigations assessed soil quality (pH, texture, organic matter), air quality (PM10, PM2.5, SO₂, NO₂), water quality (pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen), vegetation composition, and community perceptions. Results indicate degraded soil fertility in mining sites (organic matter 0.25–0.68%) compared to the control site (0.77–0.86%), elevated particulate matter near MOCP (PM₁₀ up to 118 µg/m³), and higher turbidity with reduced dissolved oxygen in mine-affected water bodies. Vegetation surveys revealed dominance of stress-tolerant and invasive species such as Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus. Stakeholder consultations highlighted serious concerns regarding health, livelihoods, and inadequate rehabilitation efforts. The study proposes an integrated, community-inclusive ecological restoration framework emphasizing native plantation, soil amendment, biodiversity enhancement, and participatory governance. These findings provide a scientific basis for site-specific sustainable land management strategies for post-mining landscapes in Dhanbad.