No.J-11015/229/2007-IA.II(M)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Paryavaran Bhawan,

C.G.O.Complex,

New Delhi -110510.

 

Dated:  15th April 2009

To

Chief General Manger,

M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd.,

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

 

Sub:                Expansion of Jhilmili Underground Coal Mine Project (from 0.30 MTPA to 0.50MTPA) of M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL), located in village Sorga, Tehsil Baikunthpur, District Korea, Chhattisgarh - environmental clearance – reg.

 

Sir,

 

                This has reference to Ministry of Coal’s letter No. 43011/41/2007-CPAM dated 28.02.2007 forwarding the application for Terms of Reference (TOR) and this Ministry’s grant of TOR dated 28.06.2007 and the application for environmental clearance No. SECLBSP/Envt./Pandavpara/UG/2008/03 dated 24.03.008 based on TOR and subsequent letters dated 23.10.2008, 09.02.2009 and 06.03.2009 received from M/s SECL on the aforesaid project. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has considered the application.  It has been noted that the project is for expansion in production of the existing Jhilmili Underground Coalmine Project (UGP) form 0.30 MTPA to 0.50 MTPA. EC was obtained on 30.01.1995 for 0.30 MTPA project involving the existing total lease area of 972.036 ha, of which 201.131 ha is agricultural land, 752.823 ha is forestland and 18.082 ha is govt. land. The lease area has 4 seams – Seam V and IV B of Jhilmili UGP and Seams II and III of Pandavpara falling within the same mine block. There area no National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves found in the 15 km buffer zone. The Dharsea RF is found within the core zone and extends upto 5 km in the buffer zone. Temari RF and Chapda PF are also situated within the study area. Forestry clearance has been obtained for a combined area of 1013.316 ha is mining rights and 37.507 ha is for surface rights for Pandavpara and Girijapur coalmine projects. Two Schedule-I fauna, namely Sloth Bear and Monitor Lizard are found within the study area.  Of the total lease area, area for UG mining is 848.11 ha, area for mineral storage 0.295 ha, 3.378 ha is for roads, 0.013 ha is for ETP and 93.926 ha is for township and 26.314 ha is for other uses.  A township of 93.926 ha of 988 dwelling units is situated at a distance of 2 km from the ML. The Kuluha nala flows adjoining the ML and Gobri Nala flows at a distance of 2 km from the ML. The project does not involve modification of the natural drainage. Mining is UG by Bord & Pillar method involving caving. No depillaring is to be done under the Kaluha Nala and under surface structures such as roads and subsidence influence area. Depressed areas are to be dewatered by cutting drains. Max. working depth would be 125 m. Combined subsidence prediction Modelling of the 4 seams together – Seam V and IV B of Jhilmili UGP and Seams II and III of Pandavpara falling in the same mine block has been carried out. Mineral transportation of 1666 TPD of coal is by a black-topped road of about 17 km to Katora Railway Siding. Total waster requirement is 1220 m3/d of which domestic requirement is 1080 m3/d and would be met from Kuluha nala (200 m3/d), groundwater (520 m3/d), mine water (500 m3/d). Water table is in the range of 7.48-9.84 m during pre-monsoon and 2.98m –4.95m during post-monsoon.  Peak mine water discharge is 6838 m3/d of which 500 m3/d would be used in mine operation, 1143 m3/d is for use in agriculture and the balance is discharged into the natural drainage after treatment. Project does not involve R&R. Balance life of the mine at the rated capacity is 19 years.  Project was approved on 08.04.2006. Public hearing was held on 11.01.2008. Capital cost of the project is Rs. 25.96 lakhs.

 

 

 

2.             The Ministry of Environment & forests hereby accords environmental clearance for the above-mentioned Jhilmili Underground Coal Mine Project of M/s SECL for expansion in production of coal from 0.3 MTPA to 0.50 MTPA rated capacity under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments and Circulars thereto and subject to the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned below:

 

A.            Specific Conditions

 

(i)            No depillaring is to be done under the Kaluha Nala and under surface structures such as roads and subsidence influence area. Depressed areas would be dewatered by cutting drains. 

 

(ii)                Sufficient coal pillars shall be left unextracted around the air shaft (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)          No depillaring operation shall be carried out below the township/colony.

 

(v)                Depression due to subsidence resulting in water accumulating within the low lying areas shall be filled up or drained out by cutting drains.

 

(vi)         While extracting panels in the lower seam, all water bodies in the 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.

 

(vii)        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 shall be continued till movement ceases completely. In case of observation of any high rate of subsidence movement, appropriate effective corrective measures shall be taken to avoid loss of life and material. Cracks shall be effectively plugged with ballast and clayey soil/suitable material.

 

(viii)                Garland/surface 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 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.

 

(ix)                         Crushers or CHP if, any, shall be operated with high efficiency bag filters, water sprinkling system shall be provided to check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, conveyor system, haulage roads, transfer points, etc.

 

(x)          Drills shall be wet operated only.

 

(xi)         All approach roads to and from ML through used for mineral transportation shall be black topped. A 3-tier plantation shall be developed on both sides of the road. Mineral transportation trucks shall be covered with tarpaulin and shall not be overloaded.

 

(xii)        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, area with surface rights, along ML boundary and in township outside the lease area, etc, by planting native species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the trees shall be around 2500 plants per ha.

 

(xiii)                Conservation Plan for endangered species – Sloth Bear and Monitor Lizard found in and around the project area shall be formulated in consultation with the State Forest and Wildlife Departments. A wildlife expert/ecologist be engaged for implementation of the Conservation Plan. A minimum revenue expenditure of Rs. 17.5 lakhs shall be earmarked for conservation of the species and their habitats till end of project life.

 

(xiv)       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 tot eh Central Pollution Control Board quarterly within one month of monitoring.

 

(xv)        The Company shall put up artificial groundwater recharge measures for augmentation of groundwater resource in case monitoring shows a declining trend of ground water level. The project authorities shall meet water requirement of nearby village(s) in case the village wells go dry due to dewatering of mine.

 

(xvi)       The company shall obtain approval of CGWA/CGWB Regional Office for use of groundwater if any, for mining operations.

 

(xvii)     ETP shall also be provided for treating workshop effluents.

 

(xviii)     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.

 

(xix)       A Final Mine Closure Plan along with details of Corpus Fund shall be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests 5 years in advance of final mine closure for approval.

 

(xx)         A minimum 2.5 % of the retained profits shall be earmarked for activities under CSR.

 

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, As, Ni, Cr, 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 and NOx and heavy metals such as Hg, As, Ni, Cr, etc) 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.

 

(v)                 Fugitive dust emissions (SPM and RSPM and heavy metals such as Hg, As, Ni, Cr, etc) from all the sources shall be controlled regularly monitored and data recorded properly. Water spraying arrangement on haul roads, wagon loading, dump 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 transportation of 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 updated at least once every six months so as to bring the same in the public domain. The data shall also be displayed at the entrance of the project premises and mines office and in corporate office.

 

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, Shastri Bhawan, 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 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.    Shri M.K. Shukla, CGM, Coal India Limited, SCOPE Minar, Core-I, 4t Floor, Vikas Marg, Laxminagar, New Delhi.

8.    District Collector, Korea, Government of Chhattisgarh

9.    Monitoring File                        10.                        Guard File                        11.                        Record File

 

 

 

(Dr.T.Chandini)

Director

 

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