The total population of Jharia town is approximately 1.5 lacs. This consists of mainly merchants small traders, rickshaw, taxi and other transport operators, mechanical and electrical shops and laborers. A few merchants deal in hardware and other colliery and industrial supplies. Merchants and other businessmen like doctors lawyers etc. The roads are generally narrow and most of the drainage is open.
Water supply is by pipes.
General living conditions are unhygenie and unsatisfactory. Most of the population depends upon colliery labour and staff for their living and if rehabilitated in new areas, it will be necessary to ensure that their modes of livelyhood are not adversely affected. New housing colonies should be suitably placed near major workmen's colonies so that ready market is assured to the shop keepers and other business people. It may be worth considering to split the population in such a way that colliery workers and merchants get mutual benefits. Public amenities like schools etc. can also be used by all and artificial separation of workers and other population may be minimum.