No.J-11015/1000/2007-IA.II(M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment &
Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
Dated: 27th April 2010
To
General Manager (W.B.P/Env.),
M/s South
Eastern Coalfields Ltd.,
Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Sub: Expansion of
Chhal Opencast Coal Mine Project (1 MTPA to 3 MTPA with a peak production o 3.5
MTPA and increase in project area from
222.439 ha to 641.013 ha) of M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd., located
in village Lat, Tehsil Dharamjaigarh,
district Raigarh, Chhattisgarh - environmental clearance – reg.
Sir,
This
is with reference to letter No. 43011/108/2007-CPAM dated 23.08.2007 forwarding
the application for Terms of Reference (TOR) and this Ministry’s letter dated
17.12.2007 granting TOR to the above-mentioned project and subsequent letter
No. CIL/EMP-TOR/2009/08 of M/s CIL dated 19.02.2009 with application for
environmental clearance based on TOR and letters of M/s SECL dated 20.06.2009
and 03.03.2010 on the above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment
& Forests has considered your application. The project is for expansion in
Chhal Opencast Coalmine Project in terms of annual production capacity of
coal from 1MTPA to 3 MTPA
with a peak production capacity of 3.5 MTPA and project area from 222.439 ha to 641.013 ha. The
project was granted environmental clearance on 27.03.2006 for a production
capacity of 1 MTPA of coal in a ML area of 222.439 ha. Of the total lease area, 313.579 ha is
agricultural land, 176.71 ha is forestland, 54.996 ha is wasteland, 2.520 ha
grazing land and 5.890 ha is surface water bodies. Of the total project
area, 137.27 ha is for quarry, 1 ha is for storage of topsoil, 37 ha is for
ext. OB dump, 1 ha is for mineral storage, 36.73 ha is for infrastructure and
buildings, 10 ha is for green belt, 13 ha is for township, 407.013 ha is for
safety zone and fro future mining. There are a number of nalas such as Dom nala, Jhampi, Sukhia, and Bojia nalas flowing
in the study area. River Kurket flowing along east-west direction, joins River
Mand south of the ML. River Mand flows along the western boundary of the ML is
proposed to be modified by constructing an embankment along River Mand. A 60m barrier between the
Expansion of the mine is
form 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to
3.5 MTPA of coal production. Mining will be both opencast (OC) be mechanised method
using surface miner for coal extraction and shovel-dumper for
2. The
Ministry of Environment & Forests has examined the application in
accordance with the EIA Notification 2006 and under the provisions thereof,
hereby accords environmental clearance for the above-mentioned Chhal Opencast Coalmine project of M/s South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. for
expansion in production of coal from 1 MTPA to 3.5 MTPA rated capacity and
increase in project area from 222.439
ha to 641.013 ha under the provisions of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Notification, 2006 and amendments thereto and Circulars issued
thereon and subject to the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned
below:
A. Specific Conditions
(i)
No mining operations shall be
undertaken in 176.710 ha of forestland which shall be
maintained
as safety zone.
(ii) Mining shall be carried out as per
statuette at a safe distance from the surface water bodies flowing in and near
the Mine Lease/ project area. The plan for modification
of the natural surface drainage by construction of an embankment shall be done
in consultation and approval of the concerned State Flood and irrigation
Department. Embankment to be constructed 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 and shall be stabilised with plantation.
(iii) Top soil shall be stored in the earmarked
area and used for green belt development and for plantation/reclamation within
a year of its generation
(iv) OB shall be stacked at the earmarked
external
(v) Garland drains (size, gradient and
length) around the safety areas such as mine shaft and low lying areas and sump
capacity shall be designed keeping 50% safety margin over an above the peak
sudden rainfall and maximum discharge in the area adjoining the mine sites.
Sump capacity shall also be provided adequate retention period to allow proper
settling of silt material.
(vi) Catch drains and siltation ponds of
appropriate size shall be constructed to arrest silt and sediment flows from
soil,
(vii) Dimension of the retaining wall at the toe
of the dumps and
(viii) Water sprinkling system (mist type) shall
be provided to check fugitive emissions from crushing operations, conveyor
system which shall be closed, haulage roads, transfer points, etc.
(ix) Drills shall be wet
operated only.
(x) Mineral transportation
from coal mine to existing railway siding by road shall shift to rail mode
within 2 years after a railway siding is established within/near the project
area.
(xi) Controlled blasting shall 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 shall
be implemented.
(xii) An afforestation plan covering an area not
less than 324.66 ha shall be implemented, which includes backfilled area
(110.95 ha) and ext. OB dump (37 ha), along ML boundary, green belt, along
roads, infrastructure, safety zone, undisturbed/vacant land (176.71 ha) and
township area 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
(xiii) Backfilling shall start by the 2nd
year of expansion operations. Of the total 137.27 ha of the quarry area, an
area of 110.95 ha of excavated area shall be reclaimed with plantation/afforestation
by planting native plant species such as Bamboo (Dandrocalamus strictus), Dandrocalamus rhedhii, Ficus sp,
Bucchnania lanzen, Feronia elephanta, Miliusa velutina etc. The Committee also suggested some grass species such as Thysanolaena agrostis, Cymbopogon
flexuosus, Iseilema laxum sp., Eflunda
mutica, Dycanthus sp Pennisetum purpureum (Elephant grass) Erianthus ravennae,
E. elephantinus) which would serve as fodder for the elephants and other native species in consultation with the
local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the trees shall be around 2500
plants per ha. The balance 26.32 ha of decoaled the void left for further
expansion in the dipside shall be converted into a water reservoir, shall be
gently sloped and the upper benches of the reservoir shall be stabilised with
plantation and the periphery of the reservoir fenced.
(xiv) The Wildlife Conservation Plan prepared for
in-situ conservation of the wildlife particularly the rare and endangered
species/Schedule-I and II fauna particularly Indian Elephant reported within
the study area and the mine and endangered flora and species of medicinal
importance found in the study area shall be implemented in consultation with
the Forest and Wildlife Departments in the State Government. Separate funds
shall be earmarked for implementation of the various activities there under and
the status thereof shall be regularly reported to this Ministry and the MOEF
Regional Office,
(xv) Prior approval of the CGWA shall be
obtained for using ground water 172 m3/d for the mining operation.
(xvi) A detailed ground water monitoring action
plan (along with budgetary provisions) for monitoring groundwater quality and
level in consultation with the Central/State Ground Water Board be prepared and
implemented. 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.
(xvii) A Plan for water conservation and recharge
measures of ground water along with budgetary provisions be prepared and
implemented in consultation with the Central/State Ground Water Board to
mitigate the adverse impact of mining which may lead to depletion of water
levels in the area. The Company shall put up artificial groundwater recharge
measures for augmentation of groundwater resource in case monitoring of
groundwater levels indicate decline of water table. Any additional water
requirement for mining operation shall be met from rainwater/recycling of water
only. The project authorities shall meet water requirement of nearby village(s)
in case the village wells go dry due to dewatering of mine.
(xviii) ETP shall also be provided for treatment of
effluents from workshop, and an STP shall be provided for treating wastewater
from the township and the treated effluents shall be used for green belt
development. An estimated 4580 m3/d of mine water shall be treated to
prescribed standards before discharge into the surface waters/agricultural use.
(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) 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 Bhopal.
(xxi) R&R of village Lat shall be not less
than the norms prescribed in National R&R Policy
2007 and shall be implemented within a specified agreed time schedule.
(xxii) A detailed Plan
for CSR with specific budgetary allocation (capital of Rs 1 crore and revenue
expenditure of Rs 5 per tonne of coal) for various skill development and
alternate livelihood programmes and schemes and implemented through
establishment of cooperatives and SHGs particularly for the tribal populations shall
be implemented. A detailed survey shall
be carried on the socio-economic status of the local communities living
in the villages near the project area
before start of the mining operation based on a scientific methodology based on
UNDP Human Development Index and monitoring the impact of project on the
socio-economic and human development of the local communities, which shall be
used as for monitoring the progress of the status of human and socio-economic
development in the area during and after the project life which is reflected in
their Annual Report of the company and is also furnished as part of the
Monitoring Report submitted to MOEF.
(xxiii) A Final Mine Closure Plan along with details
of Corpus Fund shall be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests
five year before mine closure for approval. Habitat Restoration Plan of the
mine area shall be carried out using a mix of native species found in the
original ecosystem, which were conserved in-situ and ex-situ in an identified area
within the lease for reintroduction in the mine during mine reclamation and at
the post mining stage for habitat restoration into forest land (324.66 ha)
using native species found during pre-mining period, and agricultural land
(179.939 ha) including grazing land.
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,
PM 2.5, 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. 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 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 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
(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,
2.
Secretary, Department of Environment & Forests,
Government of Chhattisgarh, Secretariat,
3.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional office (EZ),
Ministry of Environment & Forests, E-2/240 Arear Colony, Bhopal – 462016.
4. Chairman, Chhattisgarh State Environment Conservation Board, 1-Tilak Nagar, Shiv
Mandir Chowk,Main Road, Avanti Vihar, RAIPUR-Chhattisgarh – 492001.
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. District Collector, Raigarh, Government of
Chhattisgarh.
8. Monitoring File 9. Guard File 10. Record
File.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director