No.J-11015/314/2006-IA.II(M)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Paryavaran Bhawan,

C.G.O.Complex, Lodi Road,

New Delhi -110003.

 

Dated: 20th March 2007

To

Head of Department Env./CE(Civil),

Environment Department,

M/s Western Coalfields Ltd.,

Coal Estate, Civil Lines,

NAGPUR – 440001.

 

Sub:       Expansion of Pimpalgaon Opencast Coal Mine Expansion Project (production from 0.60 MTPA to 1.50 MTPA and lease area from 450 ha to 451.87 ha of M/s Western Coalfields Ltd. (WCL), located near village Pimpalgaon, Tehsil Wani, District Yavatmal, Maharashtra - environmental clearance – reg.

Sir,

 

                This has reference to letter No. 43011/314/2006-CPAM dated 30.10.2006 of Ministry of Coal forwarding your application on the above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has considered your application.  The proposal is for expansion in production from 0.60 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 1.50 MTPA and lease area from 450 ha to 451.87 ha. Of the total lease area, 439.77 ha consist of agricultural land and 12.10 ha is (Govt.) wasteland. No forestland is involved. A township exists at a distance of 2 km from mine site. There area no National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves found in the 10 km buffer zone. Of the total lease area, area for excavation is 144 ha, 177.80 ha is for OB dumps, 25 ha is for infrastructure, 10 ha is for roads, 77.50 ha is for greenbelt, 1 ha is for CHP and 16.57 ha is for rationalisation area. River Wardha flows at a distance of 2.5 km from the ML boundary. Project involves modification of the natural drainage by construction of an embankment along the Wardha River. Project does not involve R&R. Mining will be opencast by mechanised method. Expansion of the annual rated capacity of the mine is from 0.60 MTPA to 1.50 MTPA of coal production. Mineral transportation of 3030 TPD of coal is by road involving 640 trucks to CHP and from the CHP to railway siding, washery outside the lease and for end users. Present working depth is about 115m below ground level (bgl). Ultimate working depth of the mine is 165 m bgl. Water table is in the range of 11 m – 22 m bgl in the core zone and 1.36m – 17.14m bgl in the buffer zone. Mining has intersected water table. Peak water requirement is 850 m3/d, which is to be met from mine water discharge. Of the total OB generation, 31.33 Mm3 of OB is already accumulated in 5 external OB dumps of a maxm. of 60m height and 1.03 Mm3 of OB has been used for construction of an embankment and of the balance 51.15 Mm3 to be generated, 29.72% will be backfilled. Backfilling has begun. Balance life of mine is 8 years. Public Hearing was held on 03.03.2006. NOC has been obtained on 29.05.2006. The project has been approved by M/s WCL on 15.11.2005. The capital cost of the extension project is Rs. 5302 lakhs.

 

2.             The Ministry of Environment & Forests hereby accords environmental clearance for the above-mentioned Pimpalgaon Opencast Extension Coal Mine Project of M/s WCL for expansion in production of coal at 1.50 MTPA rated capacity involving a total lease area of 451.87 ha under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 and subsequent amendments thereto and under Para 2.1.1 of MOEF Circular dated 13.10.2006 and subject to conditions specified below:

 

A.            Specific Conditions

 

(i)            Mining shall be carried out as per statuette at a safe distance from the Wardha river.

(ii)           The embankment constructed along the river shall be of suitable dimensions and stabilised with plantation so as to withstand the peak water flow and prevent mine inundation.

 

(iii)         Topsoil shall be stacked properly with proper slope at earmarked site(s) and should not be kept active and shall be used immediately for reclamation and development of green belt.

 

(iv)          OB should be stacked at the earmarked 5 external OB dumpsites within ML area which shall be a maximum height of 60m only and consist of four benches of 15m each. 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 Bhopal on an                 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)        Drills should be wet operated only.

 

(viii)      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.

 

(ix)                          High efficiency bag filters/water sprinkling system to check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, conveyor system, haulage roads, transfer points, etc. shall be installed and operated effectively at all times of operation.

 

(x)          An area not less than 213.50 ha shall be brought under afforestation which includes reclaimed external OB dump (106 ha), backfilled area (30 ha), along ML boundary, along roads & infrastructure,  green belt (77.50 ha), embankment, and undisturbed/vacant area, and township located 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.

 

(xi)         A Progressive Mine Closure Plan shall be implemented by reclamation of quarry area of which 30 ha 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 84 ha of decoaled void which is being converted into a water reservoir, shall be gently sloped along the upper benches, terraced and reclaimed with plantation. The outer periphery of the water body shall be fenced.

 

(xii)        The company shall obtain prior approval of CGWA/CGWB Regional Office for use of groundwater for mining operations.

 

(xiii)      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 two years and the results reported to this Ministry and to DGMS.

(xiv)       A Final Mine Closure Plan along with details of Corpus Fund should be submitted immediately  upon receipt of EC to the Ministry of Environment & Forests RO, Bhopal for approval.

 

(xv)        Consent to Operate shall be obtained before expanding mining operations in the additional lease area and for the enhanced rated capacity.

 

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, RPM, 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)               Fugitive dust emissions (SPM and RPM) 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.

 

(v)                 Data on ambient air quality (SPM, RPM, SO2 and NOx) should 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.

 

(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 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 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.

 

(xvi)           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, Government of Maharashtra, 15th Floor, New Admn. Bldg., Madam Cama Road, MUMBAI – 400032..

3.       Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional office (EZ), Ministry of Environment & Forests, E-2/240 Arear Colony, Bhopal – 462016.

4.       Chairman, Maharsashtra State Pollution Control Board, Kalapataru Point, 3rd & 4th Floors, Sion, Matunga Scheme Road No. 8, Opp. Cine Planet Cinema, Near Sion Circle, Sion (E), Mumbai – 400002.

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, Yavatmal, Government of Maharashtra.

9.       EI Division, Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi.

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

 

 

 

(Dr.T.Chandini)

 Director

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