Ministry of Environment
& Forests (MOEF)
No.J-11015/122/2007-IA.II(M)
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
New Delhi -110510.
To
Dated: 13th October 2009
Shri U.P. Singh
Executive
Director (Collieries),
M/s Steel Authority of India Ltd.,
Tasra
Coal Mining Project,
IISCO
Coal Complex,
P.O.
Chasnala, Dist. Dhanbad – 828135
Sub: Tasra Coal Mining Project (4 MTPA) of M/s
Steel Authority of India Ltd, located in village Tasra, Kandra, Domgarh,
Rohrabandh, Het Kandra, Chakchitahi and Chasnalla, in Jharia Coalfields, Dist.
Dhanbad, Jharkhand - Environmental
Clearance – reg.
Sir,
This
has reference to letter No. ED (C)/400 dated 03.02.2007 with application for
Terms of Reference (TOR) for Tasra Opencast Coalmine Project of 1 million
tonnes per annum (MTPA) for which TOR was granted on 28.03.2007 and your
subsequent revised application dated 30.04.2008 for TOR a rated capacity of 4
MTPA without change in project area and letters dated 21.05.2009, 12.07.2009,
and 14.09.2009 on the above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment
& Forests has considered your revised application. It is noted that the
project is for opening a new ocoal mine
– Tasra Opencast Coal mine Project of 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) rated
capacity for its five linked Steel
Plants. The total project area is 860.59 ha of which 540 ha is lease
area. Of the total project area, 423.07 ha is Govt./PSU land and 437.52 ha is
private land comprising of agricultural land, barren land and setllements. No
forestland is involved. There are no National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary,
Biosphere Reserves found in the 15 km buffer zone. There is no endangered
flora/fauna reported in the study area. The drainage is controlled by River
Damodar flowing at a distance of 100m from the project boundary. Two Jores
(streams) Domohani and Cilatu flow through the core zone and join River
Damodar. Ground elevation varies from 126m RL – 149m RL and the HFL of River
Damodar is 132 m MSL. It is proposed to modify the natural drainage, which is
towards River Damodar, by diversion of the two Jores and realign the two Jores
and rejoin River Damodar in the southern boundary of the lease and by
construction of an embankment along River Damodar. The project also envisages
diversion of Dhanbad-Sindri Road in the later phase of the project. Of the
total project area, 371.33 ha is quarry area, 168.47 ha is for external OB
dump, 280.79 ha is for infrastructure, periphery and coal washery proposed
within the ML, 40 ha is for R&R site and township. The project involves
R&R of 7 villages – Tasra (304), Kandra
(2088), Domgarh (2140), Rohrabandh (4124), Het Kandra (1584), Chakchitahi (868)
and Chasnalla (2712). Phase-I of R&R to be completed within a year consists of 1642
PAFs from the villages of Domgarh (535), Roharbandh (1031), and Tasra (76) to
excavate 540 ha of area. A separate R&R colony is being established in the
village Parasbania.
Mining
will be opencast by mechanised method involving shovel-dumper and involves
drilling and blasting. Rated capacity of
the mine is 4 MTPA of prime and medium coking coal. Mineral transportation
of coal from the proposed washery within the premises of the mine to linked
Steel Plant and middling to linked TPP would be by rail. Railway siding would
be provided with Rapid Loading System. Ultimate working depth of the mine would
be 260m below ground level (bgl). Water table in the study area during pre-monsoon
is in a range of 5.65-7.45 m and in a range of 2.98-4.07 during post-monsoon.
Peak water requirement is 880 m3/d, which would be met from mine sump water. Of
the total water requirement, 600 m3/d is for mining including proposed washery
(300 m3/d) and 280 m3/d is for township.
An estimated 423.90 Mm3 of OB will be generated over the life of mine
(28 years) of which 89.46 Mm3 would be dumped externally in one external OB
dump of a max. height of 90m.
Backfilling would begin from 6th year onwards and the balance
334.44 Mm3 of OB backfilled into decoaled voids. Life of mine at the rated
capacity of 4 MTPA is 28 years. Public Hearing was held on 09.09.2007 for 1
MTPA project and on 18.03.2009 for 4 MTPA project. The Ministry of Coal has
approved the Mining Plan for 4 MTPA on 24.06.2009. Capital cost of the project is Rs. 981.63 crores.
2. The Ministry
of Environment & Forests hereby accords environmental clearance for the
above-mentioned Tasra Opencast Coal mine
Project of M/s Steel Authority of
India Limited of a production capacity of 4 MTPA in a total project area of
860.59 ha under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments thereto and under MOEF Circulars
there under subject to the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned
below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i)
The environmental clearance is
restricted to opencast operations only.
A separate application shall be submitted for environmental clearance for underground
mining project proposed below 260m bgl.
(ii) An
application for environmental clearance shall be made within 3 months for the
establishment of a coal washery of 3.5 MTPA capacity proposed within the ML
area.
(iii) Mining shall be carried out maintaining
a minimum distance of 100m between the river Damodar and quarry edge along the
northern boundary. The
Embankment to be constructed along the River Damodar adjoining the quarry 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, compacted and stone pitching done towards the river and shall
be stabilised with plantation. Materials such as OB shall be tested for
strength before using for construction of embankment.
(iv) The plan for diversion
and realignment of the Domohani Jore and Cilatu Jore and modification of the natural surface drainage and design of the
diversion canal shall be following the natural topography of the region to be
done in consultation and approval of the concerned State Flood and irrigation
Department. Dimension and depth of the nala shall be finalised based on the
peak flow of the water.
(v) Topsoil shall be stacked properly with
proper slope at earmarked site(s) and shall not be kept active and shall be
used within a year of generation for reclamation and development of green belt.
(vi) OB shall be stacked at earmarked external
OB dumpsite within ML area of a maximum height of 90m of 3 benches of 0m each.
A garland drain of adequate capacity, and toe wall along the OB dumps shall be
created to arrest the silt flow form the dumps. In addition to the garland drain, a separate 4-6m channel to serve as storm
water drain shall also be created all along the mine based on peak flow data. Silt arrestors shall be constructed for
both garland drain and storm water drain and the drains shall be regularly
desilted. Toe wall shall be constructed at the base of the dumps. The dumps
shall be strengthened at critical patches with stones and compacted. Plantation
using native species shall be developed between the dump and River Damodar. For
reclamation of dumps and quarry with plantation, no chemical fertilisers shall
be used. The ultimate slope of the
dump shall not exceed 28o.
Reclamation of the OB dump of an area of 168.47 ha with vegetation shall be
completed by 10th year. Monitoring and management of reclaimed
dumpsite 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 Bhubaneshwar on a yearly basis.
(vii) 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 provided adequate
retention period to allow proper settling of silt material.
(viii) 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.
(ix) The main approach roads shall be black topped. A 3-tier avenue plantation shall be developed along the main approach roads and haul roads. Entire mineral transportation shall be by rail mode only. Mineral transportation from the mine to the Railway siding shall be by closed belt conveyor only. The railway siding shall be provided with Silo Rapid Loading System.
(x) Drills shall be wet operated only.
(xi) Controlled blasting shall be practiced
with use of delay detonators. The mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest the fly rocks and
boulders shall be implemented.
(xii)
Water sprinkling system shall be
provided to check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, conveyor system,
haulage roads, transfer points, etc. Hoppers of the coal crushing unit and washery unit
shall be fitted with high efficiency bag filters and mist spray water
sprinkling system shall be installed and operated effectively at all times of
operation to check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, transfer points
and at Railway Siding.
(xiii) No groundwater (bore well) shall be used
for mining operations. Additional water if any required for the project shall
be used from recycled water or mine discharge water or rainwater collected in
rainwater harvesting pits within the project area.
(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 to the Central Pollution Control Board quarterly within one month of monitoring.
Rainwater structures shall be erected in the core and buffer zone, in case
monitoring indicates a decline in water table.
(xv) The project authorities shall meet water
requirement of nearby village(s) in case the village wells go dry due to
dewatering of mine.
(xvi) Sewage treatment plant of adequate
capacity shall be installed in the colony.
ETP shall also be provided for
workshop and CHP wastewater. Treated wastewater meeting prescribed norms only
shall be recycled for mining operations to the extent possible and permitted to
be discharged in to the natural water courses only if it meets the prescribed
standards.
(xvii) The total area that shall be brought under
afforestation at the time of mine closure shall not be less than 444.49 ha
which includes reclaimed topsoil soil
dump area, external OB dump (168.47 ha), backfilled area (276.02 ha), along ML
boundary, embankment and undisturbed area, along roads and infrastructure,
green belt, and in township outside the lease
by planting native species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture
Department. The density of the trees
shall be around 2500 plants per ha.
(xviii) A Progressive Mine Closure Plan shall be
implemented by reclamation of 276.02 ha, of the total quarry area of 371.33 ha,
which shall be backfilled and afforested
by planting native plant species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture
Department. The density of the plants shall be around 2500 plants per
ha. The balance 95.31 ha of decoaled
quarry area being converted into a water reservoir shall be gently sloped and
the the upper
benches of the reservoir shall be terraced and stabilised with plantation. Only native species hall be used
for plantation.
(xix) 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.
(xx) An amount of Rs 600.60 lakhs as capital
costs and Rs 35 lakhs towards annual recurring costs has been earmarked for environmental protection measures, the
details of which shall be uploaded on the company’s website every year.
(xxi) A detailed R&R Plan for the life of
the project comprising land losers, homestead losers and land and homestead
losers, and landless including tribals to be displaced from the project area
shall be prepared and implemented in a stipulated time–frame. A Master Plan for the R&R Colony and a
specific plan for Phase-I consisting of 1642 PAFs shall be prepared within 2
months from date of environmental clearance along with a time schedule for
completion of activities including construction of R&R colony and
completion of various works for civic amenities in the colony. R&R shall
include setting up of an ITI for training and skill
development amongst the persons to be employed and those not being absorbed for
vocational training for alternate livelihood, particularly simulation training
for various skills, which may be for indirect employment. Annuities for the
vulnerable persons being displaced shall also be included in R&R. Persons
affected by double/triple displacement shall be compensated as per norms.
R&R for Phase-I shall be completed within a year of grant of environmental clearance.
A Sub-Committee comprising of 3 experts of the Expert Appraisal Committee shall monitor the compliance of implementation of Phase-I of the R&R and beyond, if required.
(xxii) Peripheral villages of Parasbani, Chattabad, Orbetta, Kultar, Sindri Basti, Manohar Tand
Basti, Chasnalla Basti, Manpur, Jharna, Bogla, and Chandaniyari shall be taken
for socio-economic activities under CSR, for which a sum of Rs 65 crores shall
be earmarked as capital costs and Rs 4 crores as revenue costs over the life of
the project. The proponent shall constitute VDC for monitoring the
implementation of CSR. In addition, the sub-committee of EAC shall also monitor
CSR, if required.
(xxiii) The project authorities shall carry out a
detailed pre-mining socio-economic survey based on the UNDP Human Development
Report and Quality of Life parameters and monitor the socio-economic status
once every three years and maintain records thereof and report in their Annual
Report, the socio-economic impact of R&R and CSR activities, the details of
which shall be uploaded on the company’s website every year. A post of GM to exclusively look after
R&R and CSR shall be created.
(xxiv) 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.
(xxv) 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.
B.
General Conditions
(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 SPM, RSPM, 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 SPM and RSPM etc. shall be carried out at
least once in six months.
(iv)
Data on ambient air quality (SPM,
RSPM, 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 Bhubaneshwar 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 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 Bhubaneshwar.
(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
Bhubaneshwar 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 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, Dhanbad, Government of Jharkhand.
8.
Monitoring File 9. Guard File 10. Record File
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director