question_answer

What is the importance of coal as a source of energy and as a source of raw material? Describe in brief the distribution of coal in India.                                                                                                             [Delhi 2004]

Answer:

(i) Coal is the main source of power generation in India.

(ii) About 67% of the country's requirement of power is met by coal.

(iii) It is the prime source of energy in the manufacturing of iron and steel.

(iv) It is also used as a raw material in chemical industry.

Distribution of coal:

(i) Anthracite is found in Jammu and Kashmir.

(ii) Bituminous is found most widely in Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

(iii) Lignite or brown coal is found in Rajasthan, Assam and Tamil Nadu.