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Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF)
No.J-11015/36/2010-IA.II
(M)
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
To
Dated: 28th June 2011
M/s South Eastern Coalfield Ltd.
Bilaspur,
Chhattisgarh.
Sub: Dhanpuri-Amlai Group of Opencast Coal Mines
(expansion from 1.50 MTPA to 3.50 MTPA (normative) and 4.75 MTPA (peak) and
expn. in area from 1309.554 ha to 1500.549 ha) of M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd., located in villages Baragawan, Devhara,
Bemhouri and Patna in Tehsils Sohagpur and Anuppur and in districts Shahdol-
Annupur, MP. –Environment
Clearance– reg.
Sir,
This has reference
to letter No. 43011/6/2010-CPAM dated 21.01.2010 of Ministry of Coal forwarding
your application for Terms of Reference (TOR), which was granted vide MOEF letter
dated 11.3.2010 and your application for environmental clearance vide letter
dated 07.12.2010 and subsequent letters dated15.02.2011, 07.03.2011 and 16.06.2011
on the above-mentioned subject. The
Ministry has considered your application. It is noted that the proposal is for amalgamation
of Dhanpuri-Amlai Group of Opencast Coal Mine Projects for expansion in production from 1.5 MTPA to 3.50 MTPA
capacity (normative) and a peak production of 4.75 MTPA and expansion in ML
area from 1309.554 ha to a total project area of 1500.549 ha.
Present combined production is 1.95 MTPA. The proposal for environmental
clearance for Dhanpuri-Amlai group of mines consists of 3 mines and has been
prepared on a cluster concept.
|
S.N. |
Name
of Coal Mine |
Existing
Capacity (MTPA) |
Proposed Capacity (MTPA) (Normative) |
Proposed Capacity (MTPA) (peak) |
Existing ML area
(ha) |
Expansion in area
(ha) |
Additional Area outside
the ML (ha) |
|
1. |
Dhanpuri OCP |
1.25 |
2.0 |
2.725 |
1075.78 |
1075.78 |
|
|
2. |
Amlai OCP |
0.7 |
Mine to close |
189.944 |
189.944 |
|
|
|
3. |
Amlai OC Sector ‘B’ |
New Mine |
1.50 |
2.025 |
-- |
190.995 |
|
|
TOTAL |
1.95 |
3.50 |
4.75 |
1309.554 |
1456.719 |
43.83 ha |
|
The total
project area of the cluster is 1500.549
ha (ML area of Dhanpuri OCP is 1075.78 ha, Amlai OCP is 189.944 ha and Amlai
Sector B is 190.995 ha). The colonies are located outside the ML in an area of
43.83 ha.
Mining
lease area : 1456.719 Ha
Common
colony area (outside the ML) :
43.83 Ha
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Project
Area 1500.549 Ha
Dhanpuri & Amlai OCPs are existing
projects. The balance life of Amlai OCP is 1 year only and all the resources of
mine, after exhaustion of reserves, would be transferred to the proposed new
Amlai Sector B OCP to augment coal production. Dhanpuri OCP consists of 3
sectors – Dhanpuri Sector A, Dhanpuri Sector D & Dhanpuri Sector C.
Dhanpuri Sector C has already been closed in 1988 due to exhaustion of reserves
and the dumps (external & internal) have been reclaimed. Dhanpuri Sector A
is operational and balance life is 2 years. The external dumps and part of
internal dumps have already been reclaimed.
Dhanpuri Sector D is operational and balance life is 11 years.
The individual break-up of land use for the
3 mines of the cluster under different categories is given in the table below.
|
S.N. |
Category |
Dhanpuri OCP (ha) |
Amlai OCP (ha) |
Amlai OC Sector B (ha) |
TOTAL (ha) |
|||
|
1 |
ML Area (ha) |
Existing |
Expansion |
Existing |
Expansion |
Existing |
Expansion |
|
|
|
|
748.79 |
748.790 |
166.0 |
166.00 |
- |
166.92 |
1081.71 |
|
|
280.729 |
280.729 |
0.992 |
0.992 |
- |
13.14 |
294.861 |
|
|
Govt / Grazing Land |
37.234 |
37.234 |
17.952 |
17.952 |
- |
4.932 |
60.118 |
|
|
Water Body (Stream) |
9.00 |
9.00 |
5.0 |
5.00 |
- |
6.03 |
20.03 |
|
|
TOTAL
ML area (ha) |
1075.78 |
1075.78 |
189.944 |
189.944 |
New
Mine |
190.995 |
1456.719 |
|
|
Area for colony
(ha) (agr./tenancy land) |
43.83 |
|||||||
|
Total
Project Area of Cluster (ha) |
1500.549 |
|||||||
Of the total ML area of 1456.719 ha, 1081.71
ha is forestland, 294.861 ha is agricultural land, 60.118 ha is grazing land,
and 20.03 ha is water body (stream). Forestry clearance has been obtained on
18.12.1986 for 151.21 ha of forestland in Amlai OCP, 403.118 ha of forestland
in Dhanpuri OCP on 13.04.1987. The drainage of the cluster of mines is
controlled by River Son. Bagiya Nala flowing within the core zone was diverted
in 1992. Belha Nala would be diverted for a stretch of 2km and join with a
garland drain which joins with the nala in its original course outside the ML
boundary. Transportation of coal by trucks would be from mine face to mine
surface only and thereafter by conveyor system. There are no ecologically
sensitive areas such as National Parks, WL Sanctuaries, Elephant/Tiger
Reserves, etc within the 15km study area.
Combined
Land use for Mining Operations
|
S.N. |
Activity |
Combined Mining Lease Area (ha) |
Total (ha) |
||
|
1. |
|
Forestland |
|
|
|
|
1. |
Area to be excavated |
769.9 |
177.90 |
54.80 |
1002.6 |
|
2. |
|
43.83 |
8.11 |
20.40 |
72.34 |
|
3. |
Infrastructure |
10 |
- |
- |
10 |
|
4. |
Roads |
20 |
- |
- |
20 |
|
5. |
Green Belt |
75.63 |
- |
- |
75.33 |
|
6. |
Safety Zone |
162.4 |
108.8 |
- |
276.21 |
|
TOTAL |
1082 |
80.15 |
4.95 |
1456.70 |
|
All the existing external dumps of 43.83 ha have been biologically reclaimed.
No new/additional external dumps would be created in the three mines of the cluster.
Of the total 403.10 Mm3 of
Other
critical parameters of the Project are given below:
|
S.N. |
Parameter |
Dhanpuri OCP |
Amali OCP |
Amlai Sector B |
|
1. |
- Mineable Reserves (MT) - Balance Reserves |
26 19.50 |
10.85 0.40 |
18.70 |
|
2. |
Av. Grade |
D |
||
|
3. |
Total volume of |
215.50 |
45.60 |
142 |
|
4. |
- Already
Generated (Mm3) - To be generated (Mm3) --------------------------------- a) b) backfilled |
130.60 84.90 ------------ 5.07 210.43 |
44 1.60 ----------- 8.19 37.41 |
-- 142 ----------------- Nil 142 |
|
5. |
Max. depth (m) |
83 |
55 |
110 |
|
6. |
Ground water level (m bgl) Pre-monsoon (m bgl) Post-monsoon (m bgl) |
6.09-13.42 1.75-12.90 |
||
|
7. |
Water req. (m3/d) |
Mine 880 Drinking 80 Domestic
1900 |
||
|
8. |
Source of water |
Mine water 960 Tube wells 1900 |
||
|
9. |
Balance Life of Mine |
11 |
1 |
15 |
A total of 1389.719 ha of the project area which
includes external
2.
The Ministry of Environment & forests hereby accords environmental
clearance for the above-mentioned Dhanpuri-Amlai Group of Opencast Coal
Mines consisting of Dhanpuri OCP,
Amlai OCP and Amlai OC Sector B for a
combined expansion from 1.50 MTPA to 3.50 MTPA (normative) and 4.75 MTPA (peak)
and combined expansion in area from 1309.554 ha to 1500.549 ha of
M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd.,
under the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment
Notification, 2006 and amendments thereto and Circulars issued there under and
subject to the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i)
No
Mining shall be carried out in the forestland of the 3 mines until prior forestry
clearance has been obtained under the provisions of the FC Act 1980.
(ii)
The
total individual production capacity shall not exceed 2.725 MTPA and 2.025 MTPA
in Dhanpuri OCP and in Amali OC Sector B respectively. The combined production
capacity of the cluster of three mines including Amlai OCP shall not exceed
4.75 MTPA. Mining shall cease in Amail OCP within 2 years and mine closure
initiated thereafter.
(iii)
Mining
shall be carried out as per statuette from the streams/nallahs flowing within the
lease and maintaining a safe distance from the diverted nallah along the lease
boundary.
(iv)
No
washery shall be established within the ML without prior environmental
clearances form this Ministry.
(v)
Topsoil
shall be stacked properly with proper slope at earmarked site(s) and shall not
be kept active and shall be used for reclamation and development of green belt.
(vi) All the
(vii) Catch drains and siltation ponds of
appropriate size shall be constructed to arrest silt and sediment flows from
soil,
(viii)
(ix) Dimension of the retaining wall at the
toe of the dumps and
(x) Mineral transportation from mine to Sangma
Railway Siding by road shall be by closed conveyor belts only. No mineral transportation
shall be by road. All internal roads and approach roads shall be black topped.
A 3-tier Green belt shall be developed on both sides of the roads. Green belt
shall also be developed at the Railway siding.
(xi) High efficiency water sprinkling system
provided to check fugitive emissions at the transfer points, haulage roads, etc
shall be provided for crushing/loading operations for dust control at the CHP.
(xii) Drills shall be wet operated only.
(xiii) 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.
(xiv) The total area that shall be brought under
afforestation shall be not less than 1389.719 ha
of the project area which includes external OB dump (72.34 ha), backfilled area
(965.64 ha), green belt/plantation in areas within the mine (75.53 ha), safety
zone (276.209 ha) would be reclaimed with plantation using native species found
in the original ecosystem during pre-mining phase in consultation with the
local DFO/ Agriculture Department. The density of the trees shall be around
2500 plants per ha. In addition, an area of 31.34 ha of undisturbed area shall
be maintained for agricultural purpose.
(xv) All
(xvi) Prior approval of the CGWA shall be
obtained for using water from tube wells for drinking and domestic consumption.
No groundwater (bore well) shall be used for mining operations. Rainwater
harvesting structures shall be erected within and around the ML including check
dams for recharge of ground water and for additional use if any during mining
operations along with mine sump water.
(xvii) 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.
(xviii) The project authorities shall meet water
requirement of nearby village(s) in case the village wells go dry due to
dewatering of mine.
(xix) 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 permitted to be discharged in
to the natural water courses.
(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 a medical
institution within the study area and the results reported to this Ministry and
to DGMS.
(xxi) A detailed project specific R&R Plan
shall be prepared and implemented in consultation with the stakeholders.
R&R shall not be inferior than that in the
National R&R Policy and shall be completed within the agreed time-frame. R&R shall include specific income generation schemes. A
Corpus Fund shall be created for maintenance of the R&R colony. Annuities
shall be provided for the vulnerable sections of the displaced population.
Alternate livelihood schemes shall be implemented for the persons not being
absorbed for employment.
(xxii) A detailed CSR Action Plan shall also be
prepared for Rs 5 per tonne of coal as
revenue expenditure for the various specific activities to be undertaken for
the specific villages and in consultation with the local
communities. The activities undertaken for the
specific villages adopted under CSR shall be displayed on the company website
and updated at least once a year. Monitoring Committee (VDICs) consisting of
the project officials, Panchayats and local administration be constituted to
monitor the implementation of CSR.
(xxiii) For monitoring land use pattern and for post
mining land use, a time series of land use 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 Bhopal.
(xxiv) A
Final Mine Closure Plan and a Plan for Habitat Restoration 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 PM10, PM2.5, 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 particulates shall be carried out at
least once in six months.
(iv)
Data
on ambient air quality (PM10, PM2.5, 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
(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.
(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 be 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
(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 PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx
(ambient) 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
(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, Shastri Bhawan,
2.
Secretary,
Department of Environment & Forests, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Secretariat,
3.
Chief
Conservator of Forests, Regional office (EZ), Ministry of Environment &
Forests, E-2/240 Arera Colony, Bhopal – 462016.
4.
Chairman,
5.
Chairman,
Central Pollution Control Board, CBD-cum-Office Complex, East Arjun Nagar,
6.
Member-Secretary,
Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Water Resources, Curzon Road
Barracks, A-2, W-3 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi.
7.
Dr.R.K.Garg,
Advisor, Coal India Limited, SCOPE Minar, Core-I, 4t Floor, Vikas Marg,
Laxminagar,
8.
District
Collector, Annupur Government of Madhya Pradesh.
9.
District
Collector, Shahdol Government of Madhya Pradesh.
10.
Monitoring
File 10. Guard File 11. Record File
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director