No.J-11015/228/2007-IA.II(M)
Government
of India
Ministry
of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran
Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
New Delhi
-110510.
Dated: 20th May 2009
To
General
Manager (W.B.P/Env.),
M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd.,
Bilaspur,
Chhattisgarh.
Sub: Expansion of Baroud Opencast Mine (1 MTPA to 3.5 MTPA and
expansion in lease area from 312.17 ha to 1111.40 ha) and of M/s SECL, in village
Baroud, Tehsil Gharghora, Dist. Raigarh, Chhattisgarh - EC based on TOR granted on 28.06.2007– reg.
Sir,
This is with reference to letter No.
43011/43/2007-CPAM dated 05.03.2007 forwarding the application for Terms of
Reference (TOR) and this Ministry’s letter dated 28.06.2007 granting TOR to the
above-mentioned project and subsequent letter No. CIL/EMP-TOR/2008/05 of M/s
CIL dated 07.01.2009 with application for environmental clearance based on TOR
and subsequent letters of M/s SECL dated 05.03.2009 and 30.04.2009 on the
above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has
considered your application. The project is for expansion of Baroud Opencast
Coalmine Project in terms of annual
production capacity of coal from 1
MTPA to 3.5 MTPA and lease area from 312.17 ha
to 1111.40 ha.
The project was granted environmental clearance on 27.03.2006 for a production capacity of 1MTPA of coal
in a project area of 312.17 ha. Of the total project area, 588.15 ha is agricultural
land, 379.43 ha is forestland, 143.82 ha is Govt. wasteland. River Kurket flows
adjacent to western boundary of the ML. It is proposed to modify
the surface water drainage of the area. There are no National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary,
Biosphere Reserves found in the 15 km buffer zone. A number of open, mixed
forest are found in the core and buffer zone.
Maximum rated capacity of the mine is 3.5
million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coal production. Mining
will be both opencast (OC) be mechanised method using shovel-dumper. Of the
total lease area, 881.65 ha is for quarry area, area for storage of topsoil is
1.25 ha, area for ext. OB dumps 38.70 ha, 0.15 ha is mineral storage area,
roads 11.61 ha, green belt 10 ha, safety zone 151.74 ha, infrastructure &
other facilities 15.31ha, and 0.89 ha outside the ML for township for 132
dwelling units established at a distance of 2 km from ML. Mineral transportation of 10. 606 TPD of coal
from mine to railway siding would be by road. Ultimate working depth of the
mine is 160 m below ground level (bgl). Present working depth is 70m bgl. Water
table is in the range of 4.43 – 7.01m bgl during pre-monsoon and 2.42-3.77m bgl
during post-monsoon. Peak water demand is 750 m3/d of water of which
200 m3/d is for dust suppression, 20 m3/d is for domestic consumption, 30 m3/d
is for green belt, 50 m3/d is for CHP, 50 m3/d for workshop, and balance in
township (370 m3/d). Of the total water demand, 500 m3/d would be met from
groundwater and 250 m3/d is from mine water. An estimated 553.66 Mm3 of OB
would be generated over the balance life of the mine, of which 544.16 Mm3 would
be dumped in decoaled void of 770 ha and the balance 9.50 Mm3 of OB would be
stored in external OB dump of an area of 38.70 ha. Backfilling would begin from
2nd year of the expansion project.
Of the 881.65 ha of the quarry area, an area of 770 ha would be
reclaimed with vegetation. Life of the project at the rated capacity of 3.5
MTPA is 48 years. The project involves R&R of 4 villages – Baroud, Bajaari,
Phaguram, and Kurmobhaona - comprising 390 PAFs and 835 land oustees from the
expansion project. Capital cost of the project is Rs. 130.43 crores. Project
approved by M/s SECL on 21.06.2007. Public Hearing was conducted on
11.04.2008.
2. The Ministry of Environment &
Forests has examined the application in accordance with the EIA Notification
2006 and under the provisions thereof, hereby accords environmental clearance
for the above-mentioned Baroud Opencast
Mine for expansion in production capacity from 1 MTPA to 3.5 MTPA and expansion
in lease area from 312.17 ha to 1111.40 ha under the
provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and
amendments thereto and Circulars issued thereon and subject to the compliance
of the terms and conditions mentioned below:
A. Specific
Conditions
(i) No mining operations
shall be undertaken in 379.43 ha of forestland, until forestry clearance has
been obtained under the provisions of FC Act, 1980.
(iii) Prior approval of the CGWA shall be
obtained for using ground water (500 m3/d) for the mining operation.
(iv) Mining shall be carried out as per
statuette at a safe distance from River Kurket and other surface water bodies
flowing in and near the Mine Lease/ project area.
(v) Top soil shall be stored in the
earmarked dumps and used for green belt development and for
plantation/reclamation.
(vi) Mineral transportation by road shall
cease when rail link is established and shall be expedited with the railways
authorities.
(vii) OB shall be stacked at the earmarked
external OB dumpsite of 38.70 ha within ML area. The ultimate slope of the dump
shall not exceed 28o. Monitoring and management of existing
reclaimed dumpsites including slope stability shall continue until the
vegetation becomes self-sustaining. Compliance status shall be submitted to the
Ministry of Environment & Forests and its Regional office located at Bhopal
on a yearly basis.
(viii) Garland drains (size, gradient and
length) around the safety areas such as mine shaft and low lying areas and sump
capacity shall 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 shall also be provided adequate retention period to allow proper
settling of silt material.
(ix) Catch drains and siltation ponds of
appropriate size shall be constructed to arrest silt and sediment flows from
soil, OB and mineral dumps. The water so collected shall be utilised for
watering the mine area, roads, green belt development, etc. The drains shall be
regularly desilted and maintained properly.
Garland
drains (size, gradient and length) and sump capacity shall be designed keeping
50% safety margin over and above the peak sudden rainfall and maximum discharge
in the area adjoining the mine site. Sump capacity shall also provide adequate
retention period to allow proper settling of silt material.
(x) Dimension
of the retaining wall at the toe of the dumps and OB benches within the mine to
check run-off and siltation shall be based on the rainfall data.
(xi) Crushers at the existing and the
proposed additional high capacity CHP shall be operated with high efficiency
bag filters/water sprinkling system shall be provided to check fugitive
emissions from crushing operations, conveyor system which shall be closed,
haulage roads, transfer points, etc.
(xii) Drills shall be wet
operated only.
(xiii) Controlled
blasting shall be practiced with use of delay detonators and only during
daytime. The mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest
the fly rocks and boulders shall be implemented.
(xiv) An afforestation plan covering an area not
less than 854.27 ha shall be implemented, which includes backfilled area (770
ha) and ext. OB dump (38.70ha), along ML boundary, green belt (10 ha), along
roads, infrastructure (7.92 ha), safety zone (27.65 ha), undisturbed/vacant
land and area outside the lease – R&R site, township by planting native
species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density
of the trees shall be around 2500 plants per ha.
(xv)
Of the total 881.65 ha of the quarry area, an area of
770 ha of excavated area shall be reclaimed with plantation/afforestation by
planting native plant species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture
Department. The density of the trees shall be around 2500 plants per ha. The
balance 111.65 ha of decoaled the void left shall be converted into a water
reservoir, shall be gently sloped and the upper benches of the reservoir shall
be stabilised with plantation and the periphery of the reservoir fenced.
(xvi) A Programme for conservation of the
wildlife particularly the rare and endangered species/Schedule-I fauna and
endangered flora and species of medicinal importance found in the study area
shall be formulated and implemented in consultation with the Forest and
Wildlife Departments in the State Government. Separate funds shall be earmarked
for implementation of the various activities there under and the status thereof
shall be regularly reported to this Ministry and the MOEF Regional Office,
Bhopal. The project authorities shall participate in a Regional Action Plan o
the State Government for conservation o flora and fauna found within the study
area.
(xvii) A detailed
ground water monitoring action plan (along with budgetary provisions) for
monitoring groundwater quality and level in consultation with the Central/State
Ground Water Board be prepared and implemented. Regular
monitoring of groundwater level and quality shall be carried out by
establishing a network of exiting wells and construction of new peizometers.
The monitoring for quantity shall 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 shall be submitted to the Ministry of
Environment & Forests and to the Central Pollution Control Board quarterly
within one month of monitoring.
(xviii) A Plan for
water conservation and recharge measures of ground water along with budgetary
provisions be prepared and implemented in consultation with the Central/State
Ground Water Board to mitigate the adverse impact of mining which may lead to
depletion of water levels in the area. The
Company shall put up artificial groundwater recharge measures for augmentation
of groundwater resource in case monitoring of groundwater levels indicate
decline of water table. Any additional water requirement for mining operation
shall be met from rainwater/recycling of water only. The project authorities
shall meet water requirement of nearby village(s) in case the village wells go
dry due to dewatering of mine.
(xix) ETP shall
also be provided for treatment of effluents from workshop, CHP and an STP shall
be provided for treating wastewater (from the township and the treated
effluents shall be used for green belt development. Wastewater generated from
the mine shall be treated and recycled for mine operations and the balance
wastewater and mine water discharge shall be treated to prescribed standards
before discharge into the surface waters/agricultural use.
(xx) Besides
carrying out regular periodic health check up of their workers, 10% of the
workers identified from workforce engaged in active mining operations shall be
subjected to health check up for occupational diseases and hearing impairment,
if any, through an agency such as NIOH, Ahmedabad within a period of one year
and the results reported to this Ministry and to DGMS.
(xxi) 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.
(xxii) R&R shall be not less than the norms
prescribed in National R&R Policy 2007 and shall
be implemented within a specified agreed time schedule of 2014-2015.
(xxiii) A detailed Plan
for CSR with specific budgetary allocation (capital and revenue) for various
skill development and alternate livelihood programmes and schemes and
implemented through establishment of cooperatives and SHGs. Costs for
CSR would have a capital expenditure of not less than Rs 1 crore and an annual
revenue expenditure of Rs. 1.5 crores for BaroudProject. This is in addition to
2.5% of the company’s earnings to be utilised for CSR for the balance life of
48 years. A
detailed pre-project survey be carried on the socio-economic status of
the local communities living in the villages near the project area before start of the mining operation based
on a scientific methodology based on UNDP Human Development Index and
monitoring the impact of project on the socio-economic and human development of
the local communities, which shall be used as a base-line data for monitoring
the progress of the status of human and socio-economic development in the area
during and after the project life which is reflected in their Annual Report of
the company and is also furnished as part of the Monitoring Report submitted to
MOEF.
(xxiv) A Final Mine
Closure Plan along with details of Corpus Fund shall be submitted to the
Ministry of Environment & Forests five year before mine closure for
approval. Habitat Restoration Plan of the mine area shall be carried out using
a mix of native species found in the original ecosystem, which
were conserved in-situ and ex-situ in an identified area within the lease for
reintroduction in the mine during mine reclamation and at the post mining stage
for habitat restoration.
B. General
Conditions
(i)
No change in mining 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 excavation,
quantum of mineral coal and waste 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 SPM,
RSPM, SO2 and NOx. and heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc. 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.
(iv)
Data on ambient air quality (SPM, RSPM, SO2, NOx and
heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc) shall be regularly submitted to the
Ministry including its Regional Office and to the State Pollution Control Board
and the Central Pollution Control Board once in six months.
(v)
Fugitive dust emissions (SPM, RSPM, and heavy metals
such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc) from all the sources shall be controlled regularly
monitored and data recorded properly. Water spraying arrangement on haul roads,
wagon loading, dumper trucks (loading and unloading) points shall be provided
and properly maintained.
(vi)
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.
(vii)
Industrial wastewater (workshop and wastewater from
the mine) shall be properly collected, treated so as to conform to the standards
prescribed under GSR 422 (E) dated 19th May 1993 and 31st
December 1993 or as amended from time to time before discharge. Oil and grease
trap shall be installed before discharge of workshop effluents.
(viii)
Vehicular emissions shall be kept under control and
regularly monitored. Vehicles used for transporting the mineral shall be
covered with tarpaulins and optimally loaded.
(ix)
Environmental laboratory shall be established with
adequate number and type of pollution monitoring and analysis equipment in
consultation with the State Pollution Control Board.
(x)
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.
(xi)
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.
(xii)
The funds earmarked for environmental protection
measures shall e 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.
(xiii)
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.
(xiv)
A copy of the will be marked to concerned Panchayat/
local NGO, if any, from whom any suggestion/representation has been received
while processing the proposal.
(xv)
State Pollution Control Board shall display a copy of
the clearance letter at the Regional
Office, District Industry Centre and Collector’s Office/Tehsildar’s
Office for 30 days.
(xvi)
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. The compliance status shall also be uploaded by the
project authorities in their website and regularly updated at least once in six
months so as to bring the same in the public domain. The environmental
monitoring data shall also be displayed at the entrance of the project premises
and mines office and in corporate office and on the company’s website and
regularly updated..
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, Raigarh, Government of
Chhattisgarh, New Delhi.
8. Monitoring File 9. Guard
File 10. Record File.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director