International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

Study design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kakatiya Khani OC-II region of Godavari Valley Coalfields and selected control villages of Telangana State, India, during 2024 - 2025.

Methodology: A total of 240 farming households were selected using purposive sampling, comprising 120 households from mining-affected villages located within 5 km of the mining core zone and 120 households from control villages. Primary data were collected using a structured schedule covering socio-economic conditions, environmental quality, health, livelihood activities, and institutional support. The LVI-IPCC framework was applied to estimate exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and overall vulnerability.

Results: Mining households exhibited significantly higher exposure (0.74) than control households (0.40), driven by air, water and soil pollution, environmental degradation, noise from mining operations, and climate variability. Sensitivity was also greater in mining areas (0.64) compared to control areas (0.28) due to land and water degradation, pollution-related health problems, structural damage from blasting, and limited access to education and healthcare. Adaptive capacity in mining areas (0.44) was lower than in control areas (0.48), reflecting limited livelihood diversification and weaker social networks. Consequently, overall vulnerability was markedly higher in mining areas (0.20) than in control areas (-0.01).

Conclusion: The results show that coal mining has made farming households more vulnerable. Improving institutional support, encouraging diversified sources of income, and adopting effective environmental management practices are essential for strengthening resilience in mining-affected areas.