No.J-11015/432/2006-IA.II(M)
Government
of India
Ministry
of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran
Bhawan,
C.G.O.Complex,
New Delhi
-110510.
Dated: 23rd December 2008
To
The Chief
Executive Officer,
M/s Mahan Coal Company Ltd.,
Near NCL
boundary, Bramshi Colony,
Vindhya
Nagar Road, P.O. Waidhan,
District
Sidhi, M.P. – 486 886.
Sub: Mahan
Opencast Coal Mine Project (8.5 MTPA) of M/s Mahan Coal Company Ltd., located
in village Amelia, Bhuder, Suggo, Tehsil Waidhan, District Sidhi Madhya Pradesh
- environmental clearance – reg.
Sir,
This
is with reference to your application vide letter dated 05.12. 2006 and this
Ministry’s letter dated 07.02.2007 granting the Terms of Reference (TOR) to the
above-mentioned project and your subsequent application dated 03.11.2007 for
environmental clearance based on TOR and subsequent letters dated 03.10.2008
and 16.12.2008 on the above-mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment
& Forests has considered your application. It has been noted that the
project is for opening a new Mahan Opencast Coal Mine Project for an annual production capacity
of 8.5 MTPA over a total lease area of 1090 ha. The project is to supply 5 MTPA coal to 1000 MW
Power Project of M/s Essar Power Limited located at a distance of about 5 km
and 3.5 MTPA of coal to 650 MW Power Project of M/s HINDALCO Industries Ltd
located at a distance of 22km form the ML. Of the entire lease area of 1090 ha, 1072.35 ha of lease falls within forestland which forms a part of the Mahanban
Reserve Forest, and 17.65 ha is revenue land. A number of rare and endangered
fauna such as Leopard, Sloth Bear, Hyeana, Chinkara are found in the study
area. A Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan has been prepared. There are a
number of Reserve forests such as the Vihar RF, Mohar RF and Chokra RF situated
within the 10km of the core zone. Forestry clearance has been applied for.
There are no National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserves found in
the 15 km buffer zone. The block is drained by a number of seasonal nalas flowing
from east to low lying areas within the ML and form a part of the Rampa river
which form aprt of the Rehand River. On the western side, the drainage is
controlled by River Mahan. The project involves 23 PAFs of land oustees from
the villages of Budher and Amelia. Of
the total lease area, quarry area will be 798.27 ha, 12 ha of topsoil dump,
138.70 ha is external OB dump, 33.17 ha is greenbelt, 35.61 ha for
infrastructure facilities and roads, and 72.25 ha of undisturbed area (safety
zone). The project does not involve a coal washery.
Rated capacity of the mine is 8.5
million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coal production. Mining
would be mechanised involving shovel-dumper and surface miner for coal
extraction and shovel-dumper for OB removal. Coal is transported from CHP by
belt conveyor to Essar Power Project and by rail to HINDALCO Power Project.
Ultimate working depth of the mine by opencast operations is 160m below ground
level (bgl). Groundwater in the study area is about 18m below ground level
(bgl). Water table will be intersected during the first year of mining
operation. Peak water demand is 2700 m3/d of water, which will be
met from mine sump/pit water and from groundwater (bore wells for domestic
consumption). The total estimated OB generation over life of mine would be
707.02 Mm3 and topsoil would be 3.672 Mm3. Of the total OB generation, of which
about 75.5 Mm3 would be dumped in external OB dump of 120m height. OB of 48.50
Mm3 would also be temporarily stored in the mineralised area and rehandled to
backfill the void. Backfilling would begin from the 3rd year
onwards. The balance OB would be backfilled into the decoaled void of 626.61
ha. The total area to be brought under plantation would be 882.73 ha. In the
post mining stage, an area of 171.66 ha of the decoaled void would be converted
into a water body of a maximum depth of 26m. Life of the mine is 17 years.
Mining Plan for the project was approved by MOC on 14.06.2007. Public Hearing
was conducted on 29.07.2007 by the M.P. State Pollution Control Board. Capital
cost of the project is Rs. 1700 crores.
2. The Ministry of Environment &
Forests has examined the application in accordance with Section 12 of the EIA
Notification 2006 and under the provisions thereof, hereby accords
environmental clearance for the above-mentioned Mahan Coal Mine Project of M/s
Mahan Coal Company Ltd. over a over a total lease area of 1200 ha for
production of coal at 8.5 MTPA rated capacity under the
provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 subject to
the compliance of the terms and conditions mentioned below:
A. Specific
Conditions
(i) No
mining operations shall be undertaken in the forestland within the lease area,
until forestry clearance has been obtained under the provisions of FC Act,
1980.
(ii) Mining
shall be carried out as per statuette at a safe distance from nala and River
flowing near the ML. A Mine Drainage Plan with a surface drainage design of the
mine resulting from surface run-offs and mine discharge water based on a peak
rainfall data shall be prepared and implemented.
(iii) OB shall be stacked at the earmarked
external OB dumpsite(s) within the ML area. The ultimate slope of the dump
shall not exceed 28o. OB stacked temporarily in the mineralised area
shall be rehandled and backfilled into the decoled void. For increasing the
dump height beyond 60m, slope stability studies shall be carried out and a
Report thereon submitted to MOEF. Monitoring and management of reclaimed
dumpsites shall continue until the vegetation becomes self-sustaining.
Compliance status shall be submitted to the Ministry of Environment &
Forests and its Regional office located at Bhopal on a yearly basis.
(iv) Catch drains and siltation ponds of appropriate size shall be constructed to arrest silt and sediment flows from soil, OB and mineral dumps. The water so collected shall be utilised for watering the mine area, roads, green belt development, etc. The drains shall be regularly desilted and maintained properly.
Garland
drains (size, gradient and length) and sump capacity shall 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 shall also provide adequate
retention period to allow proper settling of silt material.
(v) Dimension of the retaining wall at the toe of the dumps and OB benches within the mine to check run-off and siltation shall be based on the rainfall data.
(vi) Dust suppression measures shall include wet drilling, water sprinkling on haul roads, transfer points/loading points coal loading to belt conveyor to be enclosed and provided with dust extraction systems and water sprinklers. Coal bunkers shall be provided with bag filter. Plantation shall be developed around areas such as CHP.
(vii) All approach roads and major haul roads shall be black topped. Measures for suppression of dust from transfer points at CHP and at Railway siding shall include mist type water sprinklers of optimal capacity.
(viii) Drills shall be wet operated only.
(ix) 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.
(x) No mineral processing unit such as a coal washery shall be installed in the ML without prior approval of this Ministry.
(xi) A progressive afforestation plan covering an area not less than 882.73 ha shall be implemented which includes reclaimed external OB dump (138.70 ha), topsoil dump (12 ha), backfilled area (626.61 ha), along ML boundary, along roads and infrastructure (10 ha), greenbelt (33.17 ha) and safety zone (72.25 ha) by planting native species including Mahua and Tendu in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the trees shall be around 2500 plants per ha.
(xii)
Partial backfilling shall start by the 3rd
year of operations and concurrent backfilling thereafter. Of the total
excavated area of 798.27 ha, an area of 626.61ha shall be backfilled and
reclaimed with plantation/afforestation by planting native plant species in
consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the
trees shall be around 2500 plants per ha. The balance area of 171.66 ha of the
decoaled area, left as void and being converted into a water reservoir of a
max. depth of 26m, shall be gently sloped and the upper benches of the
reservoir shall be stabilised with plantation and the periphery of the
reservoir fenced.
(xiii)
The Conservation Plan prepared for the fauna and
flora found in the study area shall include a Plan for protection and
conservation of the rare and the endangered fauna such as Leopard and Bear
found in the study area. The Programme for conservation of the wildlife
particularly the rare and endangered species/Schedule-I fauna and flora shall
be implemented in consultation with the concerned Forest and Wildlife
Departments in the State Government. Separate funds not less than Rs. 410.23
lakhs shall be earmarked for implementation of the various activities there
under such as leaving areas within the ML undisturbed for movement of the fauna
to enter the neibhoruing forests, construction of check dams for augmenting
water availability for the wild animals, fodder grass availability and removal
of weeds, etc and the status thereof shall be regularly reported to this
Ministry and the MOEF Regional Office, Bhopal.
The
project proponent shall also participate in the Regional Action Plan for
Conservation of endangered for and fauna found within the lease and in the buffer
zone (study area) whenever such a Plan gets formulated by the State Government.
Separate funds shall be earmarked for implementation of the
various activities under the Regional Action Plan.
(xiv)
The company shall obtain prior approval of CGWA/CGWB
Regional Office for use of groundwater for mining operations. Further
requirement of water, if any, will be from rainwater harvesting measures and
recycled mine water.
(xv)
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 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 in case monitoring
of ground water table indicates a declining trend. Any additional water
requirement for mining operation shall be met from rainwater use only. The
project authorities shall meet water requirement of nearby village(s) in case
the village wells go dry due to dewatering of mine.
(xvii)
ETP shall also be provided for treatment of
effluents from workshop, and recycled and reused to the maximum extent
possible. Any effluents discharged onto the land/onto surface waters shall meet
the standards for discharge. The water at the outlet points would be regularly
monitored and records maintained thereof.
(xviii)
Colony if any shall be provided with STP. Treated
water shall be used for green belt development.
(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)
Compensation for 23 PAFS (land oustees) shall be
based on norms not less than that given in the National R&R Policy.
(xxi)
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.
(xxii)
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.
B. General Conditions
(i)
No change in mining 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 excavation,
quantum of mineral coal and waste 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
SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx and heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc. 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.
(iv)
Data on ambient air quality (SPM, RSPM, SO2, NOx and
heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc) shall be regularly submitted to the
Ministry including its Regional Office and to the State Pollution Control Board
and the Central Pollution Control Board once in six months.
(v)
Fugitive dust emissions (SPM, RSPM, and heavy metals
such as Hg, Pb, Cr, As, etc) from all the sources shall be controlled regularly
monitored and data recorded properly. Water spraying arrangement on haul roads,
wagon loading, dump trucks (loading and unloading) points shall be provided and
properly maintained.
(vi)
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.
(vii)
Industrial wastewater (workshop and wastewater from
the mine) shall 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 shall be installed before discharge of workshop effluents.
(viii)
Vehicular emissions shall be kept under control and
regularly monitored. Vehicles used for transporting the mineral shall be
covered with tarpaulins and optimally loaded.
(ix)
Environmental laboratory shall 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 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.
(xi)
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.
(xii)
The funds earmarked for environmental protection
measures shall e 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 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 shall 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 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.
The
compliance status shall also be uploaded by the project authorities in their
website so as to bring the same in the public domain.
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, New Delhi.
2. Secretary,
Department of Environment & Forests, Government of Madhya Pradesh,
Secretariat, Bhopal.
3. Chief
Conservator of Forests, Regional office (EZ), Ministry of Environment &
Forests, E-2/240 Arera Colony, Bhopal – 462016.
4. Chairman,
Madhya Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, Paryavaran Parisar, E-5, Arera
Colony, Bhopal – 462016.
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. District
Collector, Sidhi, Government of Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi.
8. Monitoring
File 9. Guard File 10. Record File.
(Dr.T.Chandini)
Director