PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED CLUSTER – 5 (4 MINES OF COMBINED PRODUCTION CAPACITY 0.485 MTPA WITH A PEAK PRODUCTION OF 0.63 MTPA IN A COMBINED ML AREA OF 2970 Ha) LOCATED IN RANIGANJ COALFIELDS, , PROPOSED BY M/S LIMITED, HELD ON 26. 12. 2013 AT 12:00 HRS. AT THE PARBELIA GUEST HOUSE OF EASTERN COALFIELDS LIMITED, NETURIA BLOCK, DIST. – , WEST BENGAL.

M/s Eastern Coalfields Limited submitted an application to West Bengal Pollution Control Board for conducting a Public Hearing for the proposed Cluster­5 (4 Mines of production capacity 0.485 MTPA with a peak production of 0.63 MTPA in a combined ML area of 2970 Ha) in Raniganj Coalfields, Dist. – Purulia, West Bengal. As per the EIA Notification S.O. 1533 dated 14 th September, 2006 of the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of , Environment Clearance for the said project is required to be obtained from the MoEF, Govt. of India after conducting the Public Hearing.

Accordingly, West Bengal Pollution Control Board after observing all formalities, held the Public Hearing on 26.12.2013 at 12:00 Hrs. at the Parbelia Guest House of E.C.L. Neturia Block, Dist.­ Purulia, West Bengal. All the panel members were present in the hearing. Sri P.K.Maity, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. ­Purulia presided over the hearing. List of the panel members and the others present in the public hearing is enclosed.

The hearing started with a welcome note from Sri Shouvik Ganguly, Environmental Engineer, West Bengal Pollution Control Board. He explained about the provisions of the above stated MoEF notification and also informed the audience about the draft proposal of M/s Eastern Coalfields Ltd. for the proposed Cluster­5 (4Mines of production capacity 0.485 MTPA with a peak production of 0.63MTPA in a combined ML area of 2970 Ha) in Raniganj Coalfields , Dist. – Purulia, West Bengal.

Sri P.K.Maity, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. – Purulia welcomed the audience and gave a brief introduction about the proposed project and its probable impact on the environment. He then requested the project proponent to explain in details about the proposed project, giving emphasis on the environmental aspects in particular, for discussion among the panel members and others present in the hearing.

Sri G.C.Bauri, General Manager, , Eastern Coalfields Limited welcomed the audience and told that two UG mines included in the cluster 5, namely Parbelia and Dubeshwari are running since the pre­independence time of the country. But since they are going for expansion project, with two new open cast patches, one each at Parbelia and Dubeshwari, Environment Clearance has become mandatory. He also mentioned that UG mines have less pollution potential as compared to the OC mines.

Sri Sumanta Ganguly of CMPDI on behalf of M/s. Eastern Coalfields Ltd. made a PowerPoint presentation. He mentioned that there are 111 existing mines under E.C.L. with or without E. C. and they have been grouped into 13 Clusters. He narrated about the concept of cluster, proposed project details of Cluster No. 5, present environmental scenario including ambient air quality, water quality, land use, environmental impact, noise pollution, and the proposed corporate policy for environmental management through his presentation emphasizing on the likely environmental impacts arising out of the same as well as the proposed pollution abatement measures to be taken by them. He further emphasized on the proposed measures to be taken for minimizing fugitive emission like construction of concrete roads and their regular maintenance, extensive plantation, arrangement for regular water sprinkling and transportation of coal under covered condition. He further emphasized on utilization of surface water to ensure less use of ground water. He also mentioned about the proposed plan of treatment of mine discharge water and its distribution to local residents to meet their domestic purpose. Finally he ensured that after the mining period is over land reclamation will be done through extensive cumulative plantation and other necessary measures so that the land character is converted back to its original form before mining.

Representative of CMPDI further mentioned that the solid wastes generated due to mining activity will be disposed off in environment friendly manner. It was also informed that the wastewater generated during mining process will be reused for mining and will be utilized for agricultural, dust suppression & green belt development and will be supplied to the local villages through pipelines after necessary treatment. Project proponent also mentioned that they would generate employment for local people and take neighboring villagers into confidence in each stage of project. He further mentioned that the PP will spend Rs.5/­ per tonne of coal mined for CSR purposes.

During the discussion the panel members and the others present in the public hearing made queries / suggestions with respect to the proposed project, which are noted below:

Sri Kamal Neogi of Bhamuria village told that ECL authorities must initiate efforts to reduce fugitive emission and noise pollution experienced by the local residents on a regular basis during mining operation. He further stated that local employment generation and rehabilitation of locally affected people, particularly those who have lost land or affected by subsidence, must be done on priority basis. He further requested the ECL authorities that they should consider development of play ground, library, community hall, repairing of school buildings and development of medical facilities in the local villages through their CSR activities.

Sri Shanta Chatterjee of village proposed that ECL authority should come up with definite plan for overall development of villages within 5km radius of actual mining area. He further requested the ECL authority to emphasize on development of drinking water facility for local people and also initiate repairing of the drainage system of the colliery area which is in very bad condition. He further mentioned that many families who have given land or had been affected due to mining operation are yet to receive compensation; ECL authorities should address this problem immediately. Overall he assured that the local people will help ECL in their endeavor provided the ECL authorities ensure them inclusive and overall development of the area.

Jogeshpati Tripathi of Parbelia stated that there is no significant air pollution in the area due to underground mining activities. He requested the ECL authority and the local administration to maintain proper coordination between them regarding local development projects. He further expressed that priority should be given in stopping illegal mining in the area. According to his views coordination between Government agencies, local administration and ECL authorities in this regard is very crucial. He further stated that the since there still remains huge reserve of coal in the area under the jurisdiction of ECL authorities, local residents will provide whole hearted support to ECL for their expansion project; ECL authorities should in return ensure that the local people are benefited through their CSR activities.

Narendranath Banerjee of Bhamuria stated that the commitments made by ECL in their presentation should be strictly adhered to; Development of local residents must be given priority. He further stated that road conditions in the colliery area must be improved and wet coal under covered condition should be transported to minimize air pollution. He further suggested that village level committees must be formed involving local representatives in order to keep a vigil on pollution created during mining of coal and its transportation. Rabindra Kumar Bharati of Ranipur stated that the quality of surface water in the colliery belt is very bad. He requested the Additional District Magistrate to initiate action from the local administration so that proper treatment facility may be installed and good quality potable water supply is ensured in the local area.

At this juncture, the ADM (D) requested Sri G.C.Bauri, General Manager, Sodepur Area, ECL to address the issues raised by the local residents. Sri Bauri accepted the fact that there is lot of development work to be done in the area of concern. However he ensured that it has already been decided at the highest level of ECL authorities that a considerable amount (rupees five per ton of coal mined) will be used in development of the locally affected area. He ensured that already forty local villages have been identified and different developmental works will be initiated in the very near future under this plan.

Sri Shouvik Ganguly, Environmental Engineer, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, suggested that project proponent should include all the issues discussed in the public hearing, in the final EIA­EMP report. Sri P.K.Maity, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. ­ Purulia emphasized that all possible measures should be ensured by the project proponent towards the mitigation of all environmental problems and various issues raised by the people present at the public hearing. He suggested that adequate water sprinkling arrangement should be made for dust suppression. He also told that he will take up the matter with the E.C.L. authority for supply of drinking water . He requested the ECL authorities to arrange for mobile medical vans for remote villages. He assured the audience that the proceedings of this public hearing shall be duly forwarded to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India for their decision and further expressed his gratitude to the audience for their active participation in this public hearing.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Sri Shouvik Ganguly, Sri P.K.Maity, Environmental Engineer, Additional District Magistrate (Dev.), West Bengal Pollution Control Board Dist. – Purulia