No.J-11015/315/2006-IA.II(M)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

Paryavaran Bhawan,

C.G.O.Complex, Lodi Road,

New Delhi -110003.

To

Dated: 21st March 2007

Head of Department Env./CE(Civil),

Environment Department,

M/s Western Coalfields Ltd.,

Coal Estate, Civil Lines,

NAGPUR – 440001.

 

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 OB generation is estimated at 53.464 Mm3 of which 15.844 Mm3 has been accumulated in one external dumps of a max. height of 60m consisting of four benches of 15m height., 1.213 Mm3 of OB used for construction of embankment and of the balance 37.62 Mm3 of OB to be generated, 85% will be backfilled. Backfilling has already begun. Balance life of the mine at the rated capacity is 7 years. Public Hearing was held on 27.10.2005. NOC has been obtained on 10.03.2006. The project has been approved by M/s WCL on 07.01.2006. The capital cost of the extension project is Rs. 2392 lakhs.

 

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)          OB should be stacked at the earmarked external OB dumpsite within ML area and 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

                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)        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 Bhopal.

 

(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 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, Chandrapur, 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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