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