Counter affidavit on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on Khadia Opencast Coal Mine Expansion Project and violation of EC norms, 13/05/2025
Counter affidavit on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in OA No 580 of 2022 Mukesh Singh Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others.
The report dated May 13, 2025 related to the Khadia Opencast Coal Mine Expansion Project located in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, and Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh. In 2022 and 2024 two expansion environmental clearances were granted to the project.
In accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure, MoEFCC in September 13, 2024 asked the regional office of the MoEFCC at Lucknow to furnish a factual status report detailing condition wise compliance status report for the ECs associated with the project.
Pursuant to the Ministry's letter, September 13, 2024, the regional office at Lucknow conducted a site inspection on November 27 and 28, 2024. Based on the inspection, an inspection report was submitted which stated that several conditions of the EC were either partially complied or not complied by the project proponent.
Regional office, Lucknow again conducted a site visit on March 17-18, 2025. The report mentioned continued non compliance without much improvement in compliance status of some of the major conditions.
The continued non-compliance for EC conditions which are reported as 'partly complied' / 'not complied' include non -maintenance of the garland drain. Green belt has not been developed as per the EC condition. Greenbelt of adequate quality has not been developed on the overburden (OB) dump. Pucca road has not been constructed to control dust emissions within the lease area. Three tier plantation all along the major road has not been developed. Management of OB dump is not up to the mark. Cleaner fuel has not been used in the dumpers/trucks. Status of hazardous waste management such as oil containers, ETP sludge is in deplorable state. Further, ETP sludge is being dumped with OB without consulting with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB)/ Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).