No.J-11015/430/2006-IA.II(M)
Government of India
Ministry of Environment &
Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
New Delhi -110510.
Dated: 24th September
2008
To
Director,
M/s GVK
Coal (Tokisud) Company Private Ltd.,
‘Paigah
House’,
156-159,
Sardar Patel Road,
SECUNDERABAD
– 500 003.
Sub: Tokisud North Sub Block captive Coal Mine Project (peak capacity
of 2 MTPA (ROM)-cum-coal washery (2 MTPA (ROM) of M/s GVK Coal (Tokisud)
Company Private Ltd. located in villages Barkitand, Barkagaon, Devrgarh, South
Karanpura Coalfields, District
Hazaribagh, Jharkand - environmental clearance
– reg.
Sir,
This
has reference to letter No. GVK/D(PD)/MoEF/2006/245 dated 21.11.2006along with
application and letters dated 28.02.2008, 10.04.2008, 17.04.2008, 01.5.2008 and
06.07.2008 on the above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment &
Forests has considered your application.
It has been noted that the project is for opening a new coal mine - Tokisud North Sub Block Captive Coal mine
Project of 2 MTPA (ROM) (peak capacity) and a washery of 2 MTPA (ROM) capacity for its linked Thermal Power Station of 2x300
MW capacity located in Punjab. The total lease area is 585.02 ha of
which 314 ha is forestland, and the balance includes agricultural land (230
ha), barren and wasteland (20 ha) and human settlements (21 ha). Forestry
clearance has not bee obtained so far. There are no National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves found in the 10 km buffer zone. There are no
endangered fauna reported in the study area. The block is drained by River
Damodar and its tributaries. An embankment is proposed to be constructed along
the River Damodar on the eastern (3.2 km) and south-western block (1.3 km). Of
the total mining lease area, 237 ha is quarry area, 191 ha is for OB dumps, and
54 ha for infrastructure facilities, which includes an area of 14.33 ha for
railway siding. The project involves R&R of 3 villages of Devgarh, Urej and
Ango consisting of 184 PAFs (1207 persons). An area of 16.62 ha for the R&R
site and for the residential colony is proposed within the lease area.
Mining
will be opencast by mechanised method involving shovel-dumper and involves
drilling and blasting. Rated capacity of
the mine is 2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) (ROM). Mineral transportation
of coal from the mine would be by a road of 3-4 km from CHP to proposed railway
siding near Tokisud Railway Station and thereafter to the linked TPS by rail
link. Ultimate working depth of the mine would be 190m below ground level
(bgl). Peak water requirement is 2300
m3/d of which 600 m3/d is for coal washery and except during the initial phase,
the total water requirement will be met from mine pit water and from recycled
water. An estimated 147 Mm3 of OB will
be generated over the life of mine, which would be partially backfilled and the
balance stored in 3 external OB dumps.
Ultimate working depth is 190m. Life of mine at the rated capacity of 2
MTPA (ROM) is 31 years. Public Hearing was held on 12.11.2007. Mining Plan has
been approved for 2 MTPA (ROM) on 05.04.2006. Capital cost of the project is Rs. 262.70 cores.
2. The Ministry
of Environment & Forests hereby accords environmental clearance for the
above-mentioned Tokisud North Sub Block
Captive Coal mine Project of 2 MTPA (ROM) (peak capacity) and a washery of 2
MTPA (ROM) capacity of M/s GVK Coal
(Tokisud) Company Private Limited production of coal at a rated capacity of 2
MTPA (peak) rated capacity in a total lease area of 585.02 ha under the provisions of Section 12 of the
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments
thereto and under Para 2.1.1 of MOEF Circular dated 13.10.2006 subject to the
compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i)
No mining operations shall be undertaken in the forestland within the
ML until clearance has been obtained under the provisions of FC Act, 1980.
(ii) Mining
shall be carried out as per statuette from the streams/nallahs flowing within
the lease. Embankment to be constructed
along the River Damodar shall be based on peak flow data and shall be at least
3m above the HFL. The slope of the embankment shall
at least 2:1 towards the ML and shall be stabilised with plantation.
(iii) Topsoil should be stacked properly with
proper slope at earmarked site(s) and should not be kept active and shall be
used for reclamation and development of green belt.
(iv) OB should be stacked at earmarked three
external OB dumpsite within ML area. One external OB dump A to be at least 250m
from human habitation shall not be established in the downwind direction and
shall be provided with a thick green belt between the residential colony and
the dump. The ultimate slope of the dump
shall not exceed 28o. Monitoring and management of reclaimed
dumpsite should continue until the
vegetation becomes self-sustaining. Compliance status should be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests
and its Regional office located at Bhubaneshwar on yearly basis.
(v) Catch drains and siltation
ponds of appropriate size should be constructed to arrest silt and sediment
flows from soil, OB and mineral dumps. The water so collected should be
utilised for watering the mine area, roads, green belt development, etc. The
drains should be regularly desilted and maintained properly.
Garland
drains (size, gradient and length) and sump capacity should 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 should also provided
adequate retention period to allow proper settling of silt material..
(vi) Dimension of the
retaining wall at the toe of the dumps and OB benches within the mine to check
run-off and siltation should be based on the rainfall data.
(vii) Mineral transportation from mine to CHP
from CHP to railway siding by road. The road shall be metal topped. Loading at
Railway siding shall be by high capacity Silo Loading System.
(viii) Mineral
transportation road shall be provided with high efficiency water sprinkling
system provided to check fugitive emissions at the transfer points, haulage
roads, etc. Dry fogging shall be provided for crushing/loading operations for
dust control at the CHP.
(ix) Drills should be wet operated only.
(x) Controlled blasting should be practiced
with use of delay detonators. The mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest the fly rocks and
boulders should be implemented.
(xi)
The road of 3-4 km length for transportation of washed coal from CHP to
railway siding near Tokisud Railway Station shall be wide (12-15m) and black
topped and shall be swept clean by mechanical sweepers. Green belt shall be
developed on both sides of the road and at the loading/offloading points and at
the railway siding.
(xii)
Entire water requirement of the coalmine-cum-washery shall be met from
mine water. Prior approval of the CGWB/CGWA shall be obtained in cases of use
of groundwater for mining operations. Prior sanction of the Water Resources
Dept. of the State Government shall be obtained for water requirement of 1800
m3/d for the initial phase proposed to be met from drawing water from River
Damodar
(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 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 of adequate
capacity shall be installed in the colony.
ETP should also be provided for
workshop and CHP wastewater. Treated wastewater meeting prescribed norms only
shall be permitted to be discharged in to the natural water courses.
(xiii)
The coal washery shall be a closed circuit washery and no wastewater
from the washery shall discharged into River Damodar/tributaries/natural water
courses. Thick green plantation shall be developed along the road to and around
the washery.
(ii)
No rejects from the washery or from the OB dump shall be
disposed/drained into River Damodar or its tributaries or any other natural
watercourses.
(xiv)
Before start of washery operations, an FBC based TPP shall be
constructed by the proponent for complete utilisation of the washery rejects.
(xi) The total area that shall be brought
under afforestation at the time of mine closure shall not be less than 424 ha
which includes reclaimed external OB dump
(184 ha) and backfilled area (124 ha), along ML boundary, barrier &
embankment (39 ha) and undisturbed area/area for rationalisation (42 ha), along
roads (16 ha) and infrastructure (11 ha), green belt (401.44 ha), reject dump
and in township outside the lease 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 Progressive Mine Closure Plan shall be
implemented by reclamation of quarry area of 124 ha which shall be backfilled and afforested by planting native plant
species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The
density of the trees should be around 2500 plants per ha. The balance 113 ha of decolaed
area/void is being converted into a water reservoir which shall be gently
sloped. The the upper benches of the reservoir shall be terraced and stabilised with
plantation.
(xvii) 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.
(xviii) A detailed R&R Plan for 184 PAFs
consisting of 1207 persons within the villages of Devgarh, Urej and Ango
including tribals to be displaced from the project area shall be prepared and
implemented in a stipulated time–frame. The compensation shall be not less than
that specified in the National R&R Policy. Provision
shall also be made in the R&R Plan to take care of the land less labourers
and the tribals. The total expenditure
on R&R shall not be less than Rs. 1500.49 lakhs.
(xix) The project authorities shall carry out a
pre-mining socio-economic survey base don the UNDP Human Development Report and
monitor the socio-economic status once every three years and maintain records
thereof.
(xix) 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 Bhubaneshwar.
(xx) 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.
B. General
Conditions
(i)
No change in mining technology and scope of working should 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 should be made.
(iii)
Four ambient air quality monitoring stations should be established in
the core zone as well as in the buffer zone for SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx
monitoring. Location of the stations
should 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) should be
regularly submitted to the Ministry including its Regional Office at
Bhubaneshwar and to the State Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution
Control Board once in six months.
(v)
Fugitive dust emissions from all the sources should be controlled
regularly monitored and data recorded properly. Water spraying arrangement on
haul roads, wagon loading, dump trucks (loading and unloading) points should be
provided and properly maintained.
(vi)
Adequate measures should 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 should be provided with ear plugs/muffs.
(vii)
Industrial wastewater (workshop and wastewater from the mine) should 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 should be
installed before discharge of workshop effluents.
(viii)
Vehicular emissions should be kept under control and regularly
monitored. Vehicles used for transporting the mineral should be covered with
tarpaulins and optimally loaded.
(ix)
Environmental laboratory should 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 should wear protective respiratory
devices and they should also be provided with adequate training and information
on safety and health aspects.
Occupational
health surveillance programme of the workers should 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 should 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 should e kept
in separate account and should not be diverted for other purpose. Year-wise
expenditure should be reported to this Ministry and its Regional Office at
Bhubaneshwar.
(xiii)
A copy of the environmental clearance letter shall be marked to
concerned Panchayat/ local NGO, if any, from whom any suggestion/representation
has been received while processing the proposal.
(xiv)
State Pollution Control Board should display a copy of the clearance
letter at the Regional Office, District
Industry Centre and Collector’s Office/Tehsildar’s Office for 30 days.
(xv)
The Project authorities should 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.
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.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director
Copy to:
1. Secretary, Ministry of
Coal, New Delhi.
2. Secretary, Department of
Environment & Forests, Government of Jharkand, Secretariat, Ranchi.
3. Chief Conservator of
Forests, Regional office (EZ), Ministry of Environment & Forests, A-31,
Chandrashekarpur, Bhubaneshwar – 751023.
4. Chairman, Jharkand State
Pollution Control Board, T.A. Division Building (Ground Floor), H.E.C., Dhurwa,
Ranchi – 834004.
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,
Hazaribagh, Government of Jharkand.
8. Monitoring File 9. Guard
File 10. Record File
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director