Jharia in Dhanbad, one of Jharkhand’s oldest coal mines, has been a constant source of environmental problems including air and water pollution for the district. The villagers in the area have raised the issues of recurring respiratory problems. According to reports, every household in the village has a minimum of one person suffering from breathing complications that involve cough, asthma and even tuberculosis due to poor air quality and consumption of contaminated water. Health complications in coalfields are predominantly an ignored part of the region, reports say. Seldom could a health centre be located in rural areas closely settled to functional coal mines. Shortness in breathing and asthma are the most commonly found ailments across villages. Alleging misuse of District Mineral Fund meant for environment-related projects, the villagers point out that the deterioration of water, soil and air quality along with reduction in stream flows and depletion of groundwater has increased burden on existing infrastructure and resources. According to Dhanbad district tuberculosis officer, the DMF funds expenses involving environment-related projects that rarely get enacted to benefit people. He claimed that health among coal region dwellers who in general are deprived of door to door health services has been worsening due to the unavailability of rural health centres.