No.J-11015/315/2006-IA.II(M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment
& Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
To
Dated:
Head of Department
Env./CE(Civil),
Environment Department,
M/s
Western Coalfields Ltd.,
Coal Estate, Civil Lines,
Sub: Navin
Kunada Opencast Coal Mine Expansion Project (from 0.80 MTPA to 2.0 MTPA and
lease area from 153 ha to 258.45 ha) of M/s Western Coalfields Ltd. (WCL),
located in village Navin Kunada, Tehsil Bhadravati, District Chandrapur, Maharashtra
- environmental clearance – reg.
Sir,
This has reference to No. 43011/133/2006-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
of coal from 0.60 MTPA to 2.0 MTPA rated capacity and the total mine lease area
from 153 ha to 258.45 ha which consists of agricultural land. No forestland is involved. There area no
National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves found in the 10 km
buffer zone, however, Bhandak RF is situated within 7-8km from the core zone River
Wardha flows at a distance of 480m from the ML boundary The project involves
modification of the natural drainage by construction of an embankment along the
Wardha River. Of the total lease area, area for excavation is 97.60 ha, 6.95 ha
is for storage of topsoil, 72 ha is for OB dumps, 1.5 ha is for infrastructure,
2.25 ha is for roads, 16 ha is for greenbelt, 16 ha is for embankment, 27.20 ha
is for danger zone, and 18.95 ha is for boundary adjustment. Project involves
R&R of one village – Navin Kunada involving 225 families. Mining will be
opencast by semi-mechanised method. Expansion of the rated capacity of the mine is from 0.60 million tonnes per annum
(MTPA) to 2.0 MTPA of coal production. Mineral transportation of 6060 TPD of coal is by road (1820 TPD) involving
1300 tippers and by rail (4240 TPD). Present working depth is about 90m below
ground level (bgl). Ultimate working depth of the mine is 130m bgl. Water table
is in the range of 12-20 m bgl in the core zone and 3-15m bgl in the buffer zone. Mining has
intersected water table. Peak water requirement is 132 m3/d, of which 40m3/d will
be met from groundwater and 92 m3/d from mine pit water. Total
2. The Ministry of Environment & Forests hereby accords
environmental clearance for the above-mentioned Navin Kunada Opencast Expansion Coal Mine Project of M/s WCL for expansion in production of coal
tot 2 MTPA rated capacity involving a total lease area of 258.45 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 subject to the compliance of the terms and conditions
mentioned below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i) Mining shall be
carried out as per statuette at a safe distance from the Wardha river flowing adjacent
to the lease boundary.
(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 for reclamation and development of green belt.
(iv)
to the Ministry of
Environment & Forests and its Regional office located at
yearly
basis.
(v) Catch
drains and siltation ponds of appropriate size should be constructed to arrest
silt and sediment flows from soil,
(vi) Dimension
of the retaining wall at the toe of the dumps and
(vii) Additional
sedimentation tank shall be constructed to handle the additional mine
discharge, particularly during rainy season.
(viii) Drills should
be wet operated only. Wet drilling shall be adopted within one year even in the
existing mine.
(ix) Controlled
blasting should be practiced with use of delay detonators and only during
daytime. The mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest
the fly rocks and boulders should be implemented.
(x) High
efficiency bag filters/water sprinkling system should be provided to check
fugitive emissions from CHP, crushing operations, conveyor system, haulage
roads, transfer points, etc.
(xi) Black topping
of coal transportation road shall be done.
(xii) Fixed
sprinklers shall be provided at the new and old coal stockyard.
(xiii) An area not less than 149 ha shall be
brought under afforestation which includes reclaimed external OB dump (67 ha),
backfilled area (45 ha), along ML boundary, along roads & infrastructure (2
ha), green belt, embankment (13.05 ha) a,
vacant land (14 ha) and area in 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.
(xiv) A Progressive Mine Closure Plan shall be
implemented by reclamation of quarry area of which 45 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 52.60 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.
(xv) 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.
(xvi) The Company shall put
up artificial groundwater recharge measures for augmentation of groundwater
resource. The project authorities should meet water requirement of nearby
village(s) in case the village wells go dry due to dewatering of mine.
(xvii) ETP should also be provided for workshop
and CHP wastewater.
(xviii) The company shall obtain approval of
CGWA/CGWB Regional Office for use of groundwater for mining operations.
(xix) Digital
processing of the entire lease area using remote sensing technique should be
done regularly once in 3 years for monitoring land use pattern and report
submitted to MOEF and its Regional office at
(xx) 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.
(xxi) R&R
of village Navin Kunada shall be completed within the specified time schedule
and shall be not less than that of the National R&R Policy.
(xxii) Consent
to Operate shall be obtained before expansion in production.
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
(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
(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
(xiii)
The
Regional Office of this Ministry located at
(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,
2. Secretary,
Department of Environment, Government of
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,
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,
8. District
Collector, Chandrapur, Government of
9. EI Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
10. Monitoring File 10. Guard
File 11. Record File
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director