Agenda No. 2 File No. 8-87/2001-FC (Vol.) Sub: Diversion of 178.243 ha. in Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in for Additional Mining lease for Shantikani Extn Block (Underground Long Wall Project) in favour of M/s. Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Mandamarri, area Mancherial District. 1. The State Government of , Environment, Forests, Science & Technology (For.I) Department vide their letter No. 1441/For. I (1)/2018 dated 26th May, 2018 (Pg. 1-165/c) submitted a proposal to obtain prior approval of the Central Government, in terms of the section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 178.243 ha. in Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in Mancherial District for Additional Mining lease for Shantikani Extn Block (Underground Long Wall Project) in favour of M/s. Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Mandamarri, area Mancherial District. 2. The MoEF & CC, GoI, New Delhi was earlier issued approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion 285.89 ha of forest land for Shanti Khani Extension Block underground mining in favour of M/s. SCCL in District of Andhra Pradesh, vide this Ministry’s letter No. 8-87/2001-FC dated 20.12.2005 (Pg. 46-47/c). 3. Details indicated in the proposal submitted by the State Government of Telangana vide their letter dated 26.05.2018 are as below: FACT SHEET Proposal for diversion of 178.243 ha. in Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in Mancherial District for Additional Mining lease for 1. Name of the Proposal Shantikani Extn Block (Underground Long Wall Project) in favour of M/s. Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Mandamarri, area Mancherial District. 2. Location: (i) State Telangana State. (ii) District Adilabad. (iii) Category Under Ground Mining. (iv) Total period for which the forest land is Not given. proposed to be diverted (in year). 3. Detail of user agency (i) Name of the user agency. M/s. Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Mandamarri Area, Mancherial District, Telangana State.

(ii) Nature of user agency. Central PSU. 4. Particular of Forests (i) Name of Forest Division. Bellampally Forest Division. (ii) Area of Forest land for Diversion 178.243 ha.

The proposed diversion area falls in Compartment No. 375, 376, 377 RF Bellampally Range. Legal Status of Forest land Reserved Forest Block Bellampally was Notified U/s 19 of (iii) HFA of 1355-F; Gt. No. 9 dated 15-3-1357 (F).

(iv) Density of Vegetation The Area having different types of Vegetation 0.2 density. 5. Maps i. Differential GPS map of the area proposed for (Pg. 61/c). diversion. ii. Differential GPS map of the area identified for Not applicable. raising CA. iii. Survey of toposheet on 1:50,000 scale Not given. showing the area proposed for diversion. iv. Survey of India toposheet on 1:50,000 scale Not applicable. showing the area identified for CA. v. Land use plan Approved land use plan not submitted. vi. Forest Cover map Not submitted. vii. Approved Mining Plan Not submitted. 6. Vegetation i. Species -wise and diameter class wise Not applicable. enumeration of trees. (Diversion of forest land is for underground mining). ii. Number of trees Not applicable (Diversion of forest land is for underground mining). 7. Brief note on Vulnerability of area to soil There will be no noticeable erosion. erosion. 8. Approximate distance of proposed site for 0 diversion from boundary of forest 9. Whether forms part of National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Corridor etc. (if so, the details of the area the comments of the Chief Wildlife No. Warden to be annexed)

10. Whether any rare/ endangered/ unique species No. of flora and fauna found in the area if so, details thereof. 11. Whether any protected archaeological/ heritage No. site/ defence establishment or any other important monument is located in the area. If so, the details thereof with NOC from competent authority, if required.

12. Whether the requirement of forest land as proposed by the User Agency in col.2 of Part-I is unavoidable and bare minimum for the project. If no, recommended area item-wise Yes. with details of alternatives examined.

13. Whether any work in violation of the Act has been carried out (Yes/ No). If yes, details of the same including period of work done, action No. taken on erring officials. Whether work in violation is still under progress.

14. Details of Compensatory Afforestation Scheme: i. Details of non-forest area/ degraded forest area identified for compensatory Afforestation, its distance from adjoining forest, number of patches, size of each patch. As per para 3.2 (viii-c) of chapter -3 of the guidelines of Forest ii. Map showing non-forest/ degraded forest area (Conservation) Act, 1980, no compensatory afforestation identified for compensatory Afforestation and shall be insisted upon in respect of the proposals for adjoining forest boundaries. underground mining in forest land below 3 meters. However, iii. Detailed compensatory Afforestation scheme in respect of forest area required for surface right, including species to be planted, implementing compensatory afforestation shall be required as per relevant Agency, time schedule, cost structure etc. provisions. As the present proposal is for underground iv. Total financial outlay for compensatory mining, no Compensatory Afforestation has been proposed. In Afforestation scheme. the present proposal, surface rights were not proposed.

v. Certificate from competent authority regarding suitability of area identified for compensatory Afforestation and from management point of view. To be signed by the concerned Deputy Conservatory of Forests. 15. Documentary evidence in support of settlement The District Collector, Mancherial, Government of Telangana of rights in accordance with the provisions of has issued FRA Certificate vide his letter No. B3/1114/2017 the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional dated 25.07.2017 (Pg. 62/c) for diversion of 178.243 ha. in Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Act, 2006 on the forest land proposed to be Division in Mancherial District, and certifying the information diverted enclosed. in respect of all clauses of the MoEF’s advisory dated 03.08.2009 read with letter 05.07.2013 i.e. diversion of forest land the for facilities managed by the Government as required under section 3 (2) and safeguarding the rights of Primitive Tribal Group and Pre- Agricultural Communities as required under the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, discussion on the proposal in meeting of concerned Gram Sabha (s) maintaining the prescribed quorum, etc. A copy of records of all consultation and meetings of the forest rights Committee, Gram Sabha, Akenapally and Lingapur villages of Bellampally Mandal of Mancherial District are given may kindly be seen at (Pg. 62-68/c). Documentary evidences in support of settlements of rights under the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 may kindly be seen at (Pg. 62-68/c). 16. Inspection Report of the Divisional Forest Officer in compliance to the conditions stipulated in the col. 7 (xi, xii) 8 and 9 previous (Pg. 71/c). approval. 17. Field Inspection Notes of CF, Belampally. (Pg. 32/c). 18. Whether the project requires environment Yes, EC application yet to be submitted. As reported by the clearance. User Agency in part-A. (Pg. 18/c). 19. Whether the project requires Wildlife Not applicable. As reported by the User Agency in part-A. Clearance. (Pg. 18/c). 20. Catchment Area Treatment Plan. Not applicable

21. Rehabilitation of Oustee (i) Number of families (ii) Number of SC Families (iii) Number of ST families No displacement. (iv) Number of Backward Families (v) Copies of R&R Plan R & R plan is not required. 22. Cost Benefit Analysis 1:211.19 (Pg. 43-44/c). 23. Total Cost of the project (Rupees in lakhs) Rs. 327.55 Crore 24. Employment Potential Permanent = 1147 25. Undertaking to bear the cost of NPV, Addl. (Pg. 36-40/c). NPV & CA. 26. Profile of the District / Department / Adilabad (i) Geographical Area of the Dist. 1612800 ha. (ii) Total Forest Area 716244 ha. (iii) Total forest area diverted since 1980 with 7774.933 ha. number of cases. 14 cases

(iv) Total Compensatory Afforestation stipulated in the district / division since 1980 or (a) Forest land including penal compensatory 9.3 ha. afforestation (b) Non-forest Nil (v) Progress of compensatory afforestation as on 20.12.2012 (date). (a) Forest land Nil (b) Non-forest land 140.946 ha. 27. Recommendation with Specific conditions, (if any) (i) DFO Recommended. (Pg. 166-168/c). (ii) CF Recommended. (Pg. 100/c). (iii) PCCF/ Nodal Officer (FCA) Recommended. (Pg. 145/c). (iv) State Govt. Recommended. (Pg. 2/c). 4. The State Government of Telangana vide letter dated 07.04.2018 submitted the following additional information pertaining to the proposal:- i. The said proposal has been uploaded by the user agency at Ministry’s portal and an unique number generated for the project i.e. FP/TG/MIN/25158/2017. ii. The user agency has stated that clearance under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 will be obtained before commencements of mining operations. iii. The user agency has furnished undertaking for payment of compensation for the loss of forests if any due to underground Mining. iv. Inspected the site on 15.02.2018 and the proposed area is passing thorough compt. No. 375 to an extent of 27.241 Ha, compt. No. 376 to an extent of 62.889 Ha, compt. No. 377 to an extent of 88.113 ha in Bellampally RF totaling to an extent of 178.243 Ha. v. The Density of vegetation varied from sparse to open degraded forests with 0.2 to 0.4 density. vi. There are no unique trees, protected archaeological and heritage Site, Defence Establishment or any other important monuments are found. vii. The flora in the compt. No. 377 consists of mainly of Somi, Billudu, Tuniki, Teak, Nallamaddi which are sparsely scattered. viii. The undergrowth mainly consists of Teegadhari, Dante and Billudu. ix. The proposed area includes eucalyptus plantations of TSFDC. x. The fauna present are Hares, Spotted Deer, Chinkara, Gour Horned Antelope, Wild cat, Hyena and Wild Dogs. xi. The site is degraded and is suitable for water harvesting measures that can be taken up within the distance of 200 mtr. From the periphery of underground mining area under ANR. xii. The site is situated near shankarapalli village at Bellampally Range. xiii. As per para 3.2 (viii)(c) of Chapter-3 of the guideline of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, no Compensatory Afforestation shall be insisted upon in respect of the proposals for underground mining in forest land below3 meters. However, in respect of forest area required for surface rights, compensatory afforestation shall be required as per relevant provisions. As the present proposal is for underground mining, no Compensatory Afforestation has been proposed. The Surface use is proposed by User Agency is outside the notified forest. 5. SIR CARRIED OUT BY REGIONAL OFFICE CHENNAI On 24.09.2018-: Dr. MRG Readdy, APCCF (Central), MoEF&CC, Regional Office (South Eastern Zone), Chennai, has informed vide his letter no. 4-TSA130/2018-CHN/1640 dated 12th October, 2018 that the forest land proposed to be diverted has been inspected by Dr. K. Ganesh Kumar, Dy. CF (Central), Regional office (South Eastern Zone), Chennai on 24.09.2018. Additional information furnished in the inspection report (Pg. 147-165/c) are as under: (i) The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (FC Division) vide letter F.No.8- 87/2001-FC (Vol) dated 17.08.2018 has requested this office to inspect proposal for “ Diversion of 178.243 ha of forest area in Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in Mancherial district for additional mining lease for Shantikhani Extn Block (Underground Long wall project) in favour of M/s Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Mandamarri area, Mancherial district, Telangana” under Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and submit the report to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi. (ii) The site inspection of the proposed land for diversion has been carried out by Dr. K. Ganesh Kumar, Dy. CF (Central) on 24.09.2018, along with the FDO, Mancherial and other officials of the Telangana Forest Department, Advisor and General Manager of the and User Agency and based on the site inspection and available records/ documents/information site inspection report is submitted below:- (iii) Introduction:- The State Government of Telangana, Environment, Forests, Science & Technology (FOR.I) Department, vide its letter No.1441/For.I (1)/2018 dated 26.05.2018, has recommended and forwarded the Statutory Proforma of the proposal under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, submitted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Telangana State, Hyderabad, for Diversion of 178.243 ha of forest area in Bellampally RF, Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in Mancherial district for additional mining lease for Shanti Khani Extn Block (Underground Longwall project) in favour of M/s Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), Mandamarri area, Mancherial district, Telangana to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi with the request to obtain and communicate the approval of the Government of India, MoEF & CC for the proposal under Section-2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The present application is for prior approval for grant of mining lease for 178.243 ha of forest land for underground rights for excavation of coal by Underground Longwall method. (iv) Location of the forest land proposed for diversion: - The proposed area falls in Bellampally Range of Bellampally Forest Division in three compartments as below.

Compartment No. & RF Area (ha) 375 of Bellampally RF 27.241 376 of Bellampally RF 62.889 377 of Bellampally RF 88.113 Total 178.243

The total land covered for the underground mining operations of the Shanti Khani Extension Block is 697.76 ha, out of which 465.72 ha is Reserve Forest and rest is non-forest land. The existing Shanti Khani extension block mining lease involving 285.89 ha of Forest land has been already diverted vide MoEF & CC’s letter no. 8-87/2001-FC dated 20/12/2005 for a period of 30 years and the balance area of 178.243 ha requested in the Bellampalli Reserve Forest is part of compartment numbers 377, 376 and 375 and these compartments combined together are located as isolated patch surrounded by human habitations. As these compartments are surrounded by habitations and agricultural fields, the forest area spread on the west side of compartment numbers 376 & 377, and forest area situated on the east side of compartment numbers 375 & 377 may be protected by the user agency by acquiring surface rights over these areas. The compartment map is enclosed as Annexure-I. The geo code of the site is lat. 19.019350 long 79.540035. (v) The justification for locating the project in the Forest area: -The project proponent has informed that in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for coal and the high targets set by Government of India from time to time, the SCCL has embarked upon a program to increase coal production by augmenting the production from the existing mines and also proposed to open new mines. The existing Shanti Khani extension block mine area is 401.70 ha, out of which 285.89 ha is falling in forest area for which approval has been already granted in the year 2005. As such, for the remaining area of 178.243 ha, it has been proposed to request the approval for grant of additional mining lease. Since the coal deposits which are proposed to be extracted through Shanti Khani Extension Block are located in the RF area, the user agency has requested to treat the proposal as a site-specific one.

(vi) Breakup of the land proposed for mining:- 697.76 ha

The total area Forest area 465.72 ha covered under Shanti Non forest area 232.04 ha Khani Extension Block, Mandamarri Forest area diverted since 2005 285.89 ha

Forest area requested for diversion 178.243 now

(vii) Details of Mines operating in Mandamarri area:-

Expected Date of S. Description of Mine Operation Remarks No. Completion in Yrs. Continuous Miner, Road 1 Shanthikhani Mine Underground 27 Header, Bolter Miner Technology. 2 Kasipet Mine Underground 10 LHD, SDL Technology. Shovel, Dumper 3 Kalyanikhani OCP Opencast 18 Combination 4 KK-1 Incline Underground 5 SDL Technology 5 KK-5 Incline Underground 10 SDL Technology 6 RK-1A Mine Underground 4 SDL Technology Shovel, Dumper 7 RKOCP Opencast 4 Combination

(viii) Details of the Mine Reserve of the proposal:- The user agency has informed that the total extractable coal reserve of this project is about 53.00 Million tones with an expected annual target of 25 Lakh tonnes per annum. There are two workable seams i.e. Salar Jung seam and No.2 seam. The thickness of the Salar Jung seam is about 7 meters and the thickness of the second seam is about 5 meters. These two seams are at a depth ranging from 300 meters to 670 meters. The life of the Mine is predicted as about 25 years including pre-mining and post- mining activities.

(ix) Cost of the project: - Cost of the project is estimated at Rs.327.55 crores. Already employment has been generated to an extent of 1147 persons at the existing Shanti Khani underground mine. The user agency has stated that sanctioning of mining lease for the additional area for the Shanti Khani long Wall project is very much essential for continuing the employment of above personnel. (x) Details of the displacement of people due to the project, if any: - There is no human habitation in the proposed reserve Forest area and the project proponent has stated that there is no displacement of people etc. in the proposed area.

(xi) Mining plan and mine closure plan of the Shanti Khani Extension Block:- The SCCL has stated that the Mining plan including mine closure plan has been already submitted to the Director (Technical), the Ministry of coal, GoI vide their letter dated 30/10/2017 and the same is under process (copy enclosed).

(xii) Information about the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued:- The company, SCCL vide their letter dated 30/04/2018 has submitted an application for grant of a mining lease under MMDR Act to the Asst. Director of Mines and Geology, Mancherial and it is yet to be issued to the company (copy enclosed).

(xiii) Status of the approval of the project by the Coal Ministry/Board of SCCL:- Since the revised cost estimate of the Shanti Khani long Wall project with the net capital requirement is Rs.448.86 crores i.e. within the financial power of the SCCL board, the board has approved the project vide letter dated 19/09/2017.

(xiv) Status of Environmental Clearance (EC) for the Shantikhani project:- The user agency has informed that vide letter dated 20/08/2018, the application has been submitted to the MoEF &CC for EC along with online submission of the same.

(xv) Subsidence prediction report for the Shantikhani project:- The company has awarded the 3D subsidence prediction study for the proposed additional mining lease for the Shanti Khani Extension Block of 178.243 ha has been awarded to IIT, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, however, the report is awaited. During the inspection, it was enquired about the status of monitoring subsidence study in the field. For this, the General Manager, SCCL, Mandamarri has stated that as per the past experience, SCCL never noticed any subsidence during development in any of its underground mines. Further, it was stated that as per the guidelines of the DGMS, monitoring of subsidence is to be carried out only during the depillaring operations which will be carried out about 10 to 15 years after development.

(xvi) Flora and fauna: - There are no rare/ endangered/unique species of flora and fauna found in the area proposed for diversion. The proposed area is not falling in any National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Bio-sphere reserve, Tiger reserve or Elephant corridor, Wildlife migration corridor, etc. The forest type is recorded as Tropical Dry Deciduous forests, Sub Group 5A i.e. Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests. The detailed list of flora found in the inspected area is given as Annexure-II. However, no felling is envisaged as it is an underground mining proposal. The proposed area also includes Eucalyptus plantation carried out by TS Forest Development Corporation over an area of 24.03 ha in Compartment No.376. No fauna could be seen during the site inspection. However, it is reported that species like spotted deer, Hare, Chinkara, Wildcat, Hyena, and wild pigs etc. are seen in the area.

(xvii) The Compensatory Afforestation:- It is informed by the user agency that two seams of coal deposits are available in the proposed forest area and both the seams are located at a depth ranging from 300 to 670 meters. As per para 3.2-viii-c of Chapter -3 of the guidelines of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, NO compensatory afforestation shall be insisted upon in respect of the proposals for underground mining in forest land below 3 meters. As such, no compensatory afforestation has been proposed. User agency has not requested for the surface rights over the area.

(xviii) Remarks of Dr. K. Ganesh Kumar, CF (Central), Regional Office Chennai :- Since the proposed diversion is for underground longwall mining at a depth ranging from 300 to 670 meters, which would not have any major effect on the forest area, the proposal may be recommended for clearance subject to regular conditions applicable to such underground mining project, in addition to the following conditions: (a) The user agency-SCCL shall prepare and submit the prediction subsidence study report, preferably before the consideration of the proposal for in principle approval. (b) The company shall obtain the mining lease under MMDR Act/Letter of Intent before final approval. (c) The compliance of obtaining environment clearance has to be ensured before the grant of Stage II clearance. (d) Maintenance and protection of the forest area spread over all the three compartments, where the underground longwall project is proposed shall be the responsibility of the user agency, including the forest area located adjacent to the proposed area to prevent future encroachments.

In view of the above facts related to the proposal, it is proposed that proposal with the Site Inspection Report as submitted by the Regional office (South Eastern Zone), Chennai, may be submitted to the FAC for its consideration in its forthcoming meeting scheduled to be held on 26.10.2018. ****