Question

Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Describe the distribution of coal in India. (ii) Why do you think that solar energy has a bright future in India?

Answer 1

Answer:

Describe the distribution of coal in India.

The major coal deposits in India are Gondwana coal which are metallurgical coal and are located in Damodar Valley (West Bengal, Jharkhand). These constitute mainly Jharia, Dhanbad, Ranigunj, and Bokaro coal fields. Besides, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valley also contain coal deposits.

Answer 2

$\large\bf\red{(i)}$ In India, coal can be found in rock series of two main geological ages:

1. Gondwana (200 million years old)
2. Tertiary deposits (55 million years old)

The major resources of Gondwana coal are located in:

Damodar Valley (West Bengal – Jharkhand) – Jharia, Raniganj and Bokaro are important coalfields.

1. Godavari valley
2. Mahanadi valley
3. Son valley
4. Wardha valley

Tertiary coal occurs in the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

$\large\bf\red{(ii)}$ Solar Energy has a bright future in India because we are a tropical country with enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy. Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas. India’s largest solar power plant is located at Madhapur, near Bhuj, where solar energy is used to sterilise milk cans. It is expected that the use of solar energy will be able to minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood and dung cakes, which in turn will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate supply of manure in agriculture.

Solar energy is a non-conventional source of energy which is also renewable. Use of solar energy will not only be good for the environment, but it will also reduce our dependence on oil and gas.