Q1.
Coal is mainly used for the production of electricity. It is found in several parts of India. Find out the major coal-producing states and mark them in a map of India.
Answer
Coal is found in a broad belt across eastern and central India. Take an outline map of India, shade these states and write the name of the coalfield beside each.
| State | Important coalfields | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | Korba, Raigarh, Chirimiri | Among the top producers in the country |
| Odisha | Talcher, Ib Valley | Huge reserves; feeds many power plants |
| Jharkhand | Jharia, Bokaro, North Karanpura, Giridih | Jharia gives the best coking coal, used in steel plants |
| Madhya Pradesh | Singrauli, Sohagpur, Pench–Kanhan | Singrauli is called India’s “energy capital” |
| Telangana | Singareni (Ramagundam, Kothagudem) | The main coal source of south India |
| West Bengal | Raniganj | India’s oldest coalfield — mining began in 1774 |
| Maharashtra | Chandrapur, Wardha valley | Supplies power plants of western India |
| Tamil Nadu | Neyveli | Lignite (brown coal), not black coal |
| Assam and Meghalaya | Makum, Jaintia hills | Small but old fields of the north-east |
While you are at it, mark the other fuel resources too:
- Petroleum — Mumbai High (offshore Maharashtra), Ankleshwar and Kalol (Gujarat), Digboi and Naharkatiya (Assam), Barmer (Rajasthan).
- Natural gas — the Krishna–Godavari basin (Andhra Pradesh), Tripura, Gujarat and Assam.
Why coal is in the east: these coal seams formed from plants that were buried in ancient river valleys of the Damodar, Mahanadi, Son and Godavari basins millions of years ago. That is also why India’s big steel plants — Bokaro, Rourkela, Bhilai, Durgapur, Jamshedpur — were built close to the coal and the iron ore.
Tip for the map: use one colour for coal, another for petroleum and a third for natural gas, and add a small key in the corner. Do not forget to write “Not to scale”.