Ministry of
Environment & Forests (MOEF)
No.J-11015/1204/2007-IA.II (M)
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
New Delhi -110510.
Dated: 8th April 2010
To
General Manager (E&F),
M/s South
Eastern Coalfields Ltd.,
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Sub: Rani Atari Underground Expansion Coal Mine
Project (production from 0.18 MTPA to 0.48 MTPA and ML area from 382.72 ha to
389.491 ha) of M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd., located Sendurgarh
Coalfields, in village Rani Atari, Tehsil Katghora, District Korba, Chhattisgarh-
environmental clearance – reg.
Sir,
This
is with reference to letter No. 43011/85/2007-CPAM dated 28.06.2007 for Terms
of Reference, which was granted vide MOEF letter dated 16.01.2008 and with
reference to application for environmental clearance based on the prescribed
Terms of Reference vide letter No. SECL/BSP/Env./Rani Atari/UG/1271 dated 25.08.2009
and letters dated 05.09.2009, 15.10.2009, 22.12.009, and 26.02.2010 on the
above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has
considered the application. It
has been noted that the project is for expansion of Rani Atari Underground Coal Mine Project from 0.18
million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 0.48 MTPA of coal, and ML area from 382.72
ha to 389.491 ha. The mine is located in Sendurgarh Coalfields and is 72 km
from Korba Town. Of the total ML area of 389.491 ha, 361.491
ha is forestland, which forms a part of Arsara RF. The study area
has endangered fauna including Sloth Bear The additional 7 ha of forestland is
required for infrastructure for operation of Continuous Miner, coal stockyard,
CHP, etc. A colony of 28 ha comprising 767 dwelling units exits at a distance
of 0.5km from the ML. Forestry clearance has been obtained on 04.09.2000 which
includes surface rights for 8.07 ha of forestland. The lease is drained by a nala which outfalls into the Hasdeo
River. No modification of the natural drainage is proposed. Mining is by
underground method by caving and involves use of Continuous Miner, and Side
Discharge Loader. Mineral transportation of 1455 TPD of coal from the mine is
by road and covering a road length of 20 km. Ultimate working depth of the mine
is 60m below ground level (bgl). Water table of the study area is in the range
of 8.98-9.19m bgl during the pre-monsoon and in the range of 4.57-5.47m bgl
during post-monsoon period. Peak water requirement of 940 m3/d which includes
domestic consumption of 640 m3/d and is met from mine pit water (300
m3/d) and from bore well (640 m3/d). Approval of the Central Ground Water Authority
has been obtained. No R&R is involved. Life of the mine is 20 years. Public
Hearing was held on 18.03.2009. Project Approval of M/s SECL has been approved
on 23.01.2006. Capital cost of the project is Rs. 48.54 crores.
2. The
Ministry of Environment & Forests hereby accords environmental clearance to
the above-mentioned expansion of Rani Atari Underground Coal Mine Project from 0.18 million tonnes per annum (MTPA)
to 0.48 MTPA of coal, and ML area from 382.72 ha to 389.491 ha under the provisions of the
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments
thereto and under MOEF Circulars thereunder subject to the compliance of the
terms and conditions mentioned below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i)
The 20km stretch Korba-Rani Atari
Road used for coal transportation shall be maintained and strengthened. A
3-tier avenue plantation shall be developed on either side of the road using
native species.
(ii)
Sufficient coal pillars shall be
left unextracted around the airshaft (within the subsidence influence area) to
protect from any damage from subsidence, if any.
(iii) Solid barriers shall be left below the
roads falling within the blocks to avoid any damage to the roads.
(iv) Depression due to subsidence resulting in
water accumulating within the low lying areas shall be filled up or drained out
by cutting drains.
(v) While
extracting panels in the lower seam, all water bodies in the
low-lying/subsidence area shall be drained. Dewatering of the old goaves of the
upper seam shall be continued as long as the lower seam is worked to prevent
accumulation of large water bodies over working area.
(vi) Regular monitoring of subsidence movement
on the surface over and around the working area and impact on natural drainage
pattern, water bodies, vegetation, structure, roads, and surroundings should be
continued till movement ceases completely. In case of observation of any high
rate of subsidence movement, appropriate effective corrective measures should
be taken to avoid loss of life and material. Cracks should be effectively
plugged with ballast and clayey soil/suitable material.
(vii) Garland/surface drains (size, gradient
and length) around the safety areas such as mine shaft and low lying areas and
sump capacity should be designed keeping 50% safety margin over an above the
peak sudden rainfall and maximum discharge in the area adjoining the mine
sites. Sump capacity should also provided adequate retention period to allow proper
settling of silt material. Sufficient number of pumps of adequate capacity
shall be deployed to pump out mine water during peak rainfall.
(viii) Crushers at the CHP should be operated
with high efficiency bag filters, water sprinkling system should be provided to
check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, conveyor system, haulage
roads, transfer points, etc.
(ix) Drills should be wet operated.
(x) Mineral transportation shall be using a
minimum 20-T capacity trucks.
(xi) A
progressive afforestation plan shall be prepared and implanted for the
undisturbed area and shall include area brought under green belt development,
areas along roads, infrastructure, over surface acquired below which mining is
being done, along ML boundary, township outside the lease area, etc, by
planting native species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture
Department. The density of the trees should be around 2500 plants per ha.
(xii) A
Conservation Plan for Schedule-I and II species found in and around the project
area shall be formulated in consultation with the State Forest and Wildlife
Departments and implemented with funds (capital and revenue) for various
activities thereuender and a report shall be regularly submitted to the MOEF
RO, Bhopal.
(xiii)
Regular monitoring of groundwater
level and quality should be carried out by establishing a network of exiting
wells and construction of new peizometers. The monitoring for quantity should
be done four times a year in pre-monsoon (May), monsoon (August), post-monsoon
(November) and winter (January) seasons and for quality in May. Data thus
collected should be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests and
tot eh Central Pollution Control Board quarterly within one month of
monitoring.
(xiv) The Company
shall put up artificial groundwater recharge measures for augmentation of
groundwater resource in case water table levels show a declining trend. The
project authorities should meet water requirement of nearby village(s) in case
the village wells go dry due to dewatering of mine.
(xv) Sewage
treatment plant should be installed in colony. ETP should also be provided for workshop
and CHP wastewater.
(xvi)
Activities undertaken CSR shall
be for a minimum Rs 5/tonne of coal for life of the project and details of
activities undertaken for each of the villages adopted under CSR along with
costs thereon shall be regularly uploaded on the company’s website. The impacts
of CSR on the socio-economic and quality of life parameters shall be studied
once every 3 years and documented and furnished as part of compliance report
and also uploaded on the company website.
(xvii) For
monitoring land use pattern and for post mining land use, a time series of
landuse maps, based on satellite imagery (on a scale of 1: 5000) of the core
zone and buffer zone, from the start of the project until end of mine life
shall be prepared once in 3 years (for any one particular season which is
consistent in the time series), and the report submitted to MOEF and its
Regional office at Bhopal.
(xviii) A Final
Mine Closure Plan along with details of Corpus Fund should be submitted to the
Ministry of Environment & Forests 5 years in advance of final mine closure
for approval.
(i)
No change in technology and scope of working shall be made
without prior approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
(ii)
No change in the calendar plan including quantum of mineral
coal and waste being produced shall be made.
(iii)
Four ambient air quality
monitoring stations shall be established in the core zone as well as in the
buffer zone for monitoring PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx. Location of the stations shall be decided
based on the meteorological data, topographical features and environmentally
and ecologically sensitive targets in consultation with the State Pollution
Control Board. Monitoring of heavy
metals such as Hg, As, Ni, Cd, Cr, in RSPM etc. shall be carried out at least
once in six months.
(iv)
Data on ambient air quality (PM10,
PM2.5, SO2 and NOx and heavy metals such as Hg, As, Ni, Cr, etc) and other monitoring
data shall be regularly submitted to the Ministry including its Regional Office
at Bhopal and to the State Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution
Control Board once in six months. Random verification of samples through analysis from
independent laboratories recognised under the EP Rules, 1986 shall be furnished
as part of the compliance report.
(v)
Adequate measures shall be taken for control of noise
levels below 85 dBA in the work environment. Workers engaged in blasting and
drilling operations, operation of HEMM, etc shall be provided with ear
plugs/muffs.
(vi)
Industrial wastewater (workshop and wastewater from the
mine) shall be properly collected, and treated so as to conform to the
standards including for heavy metals before discharge prescribed under GSR 422
(E) dated 19th May 1993 and 31st December 1993 or as
amended from time to time. Oil and grease trap shall be installed before
discharge of workshop effluents.
(vii)
Vehicular emissions shall be kept under control and
regularly monitored. Vehicles used for transportation of the mineral shall be
covered with tarpaulins and optimally loaded.
(viii)
Monitoring of environmental quality parameters shall be
carried out through establishment of adequate number and type of pollution
monitoring and analysis equipment in consultation with the State Pollution
Control Board and data got analysed through a laboratory recognised under EP
Rules, 1986.
(ix)
Personnel working in dusty areas shall wear protective
respiratory devices and they shall also be provided with adequate training and
information on safety and health aspects.
Occupational health surveillance programme of the workers
shall be undertaken periodically to observe any contractions due to exposure to
dust and to take corrective measures, if needed.
(x)
A separate environmental management cell with suitable
qualified personnel shall be set up under the control of a Senior Executive,
who will report directly to the Head of the company.
(xi)
The funds earmarked for environmental protection measures
shall be kept in separate account and shall not be diverted for other purpose.
Year-wise expenditure shall be reported to this Ministry and its Regional
Office at Bhopal.
(xii)
The Project authorities shall advertise at least in two
local newspapers widely circulated around the project, one of which shall be in
the vernacular language of the locality concerned within seven days of the
clearance letter informing that the project has been accorded environmental
clearance and a copy of the clearance letter is available with the State
Pollution control Board and may also be seen at the website of the ministry of
Environment & Forests at http://envfor.nic.in
(xiii)
A copy of the environmental clearance letter shall be
marked to concerned Panchayat/Zila Parishad, Municipal Corporation or Urban
Local Body and local NGO, if any, from whom any suggestion/representation has
been received while processing the proposal. A copy of the clearance letter
shall also be displayed on the company’s website.
(xiv)
A copy of the clearance letter shall be displayed on the
website of the concerned State Pollution Control Board. The EC letter shall
also be displayed at the Regional Office, District Industry Centre and
Collector’s Office/Tehsildar’s Office for 30 days.
(xv)
The clearance letter shall be uploaded on the company’s
website. The compliance status of the stipulated EC conditions shall also be
uploaded by the project authorities on their website and updated at least once
every six months so as to bring the same in the public domain. The monitoring
data of environmental quality parameters (air, water, noise and soil) and
critical pollutants such as SPM, RPM, SO2 and NOx
(ambient and stack if any) and critical sectoral parameters shall also be
displayed at the entrance of the project premises and mines office and in
corporate office and on the company’s website.
(xvi)
The project proponent shall submit six monthly reports on
the status of compliance of the stipulated environmental clearance conditions
(both in hard copy and in e-mail) to the respective Regional Office of the
MOEF, the respective Zonal offices of CPCB and the SPCB.
(xvii)
The Regional Office of this Ministry located at Bhopal
shall monitor compliance of the stipulated conditions. The Project authorities
shall extend full cooperation to the office(s) of the Regional Office by
furnishing the requisite data/ information/monitoring reports.
(xviii)
The environmental statement for each financial year ending
31st March in Form-V is mandated to be submitted by the project
proponent tot the concerned State Pollution Control Board as prescribed under
the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, as amended subsequently, shall also
be uploaded on the company’s website along with the status of compliance of EC
conditions and shall be sent to the respective Regional Offices of the MOEF by
E-mail.
3. The Ministry or any other competent
authority may stipulate any further condition for environmental protection.
4. Failure
to comply with any of the conditions mentioned above may result in withdrawal
of this clearance and attract the provisions of the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986.
5. The above conditions will be enforced inter-alia, under the provisions of the
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention
& Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
and the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 along with their amendments and
Rules. The proponent shall ensure to undertake and provide for the
costs incurred for taking up remedial measures in case of soil contamination,
contamination of groundwater and surface water, and occupational and other
diseases due to the mining operations.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director
Copy to:
1.
Secretary, Ministry of Coal, New Delhi.
2.
Secretary, Department of Environment & Forests,
Government of Chhattisgarh, Secretariat, Raipur.
3.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional office (EZ),
Ministry of Environment & Forests, E-2/240 Arear Colony, Bhopal – 462016.
4. Chairman, Chhattisgarh State Environment
Conservation Board, 1-Tilak Nagar, Shiv Mandir Chowk,Main Road, Avanti
Vihar, RAIPUR-Chhattisgarh – 492001.
5. Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board,
CBD-cum-Office Complex, East Arjun Nagar, New Delhi -110032.
6. Member-Secretary, Central Ground Water
Authority, Ministry of Water Resources, Curzon Road Barracks, A-2, W-3 Kasturba
Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.
7. District Collector, Korba, Government of
Chhattisgarh.
8. Monitoring File 9. Guard File 10. Record
File.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director