11.0 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
11.1 Project Location and Project Description … 59 11.2 Description of Environment … 60 11.3 Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures … 62 11.4 Environmental Monitoring Programme … 63 11.5 Additional Studies … 63 11.6 Project Benefits … 64 11.7 EMP / Environment Management Plan … 64
11.1 Project Location and Project Description
11.1.1 The Government of India, Ministry of Coal has allotted Marki Barka Coal Block, over an area of 700 ha (7 sq km) to the Madhya Pradesh State Mining Corporation Ltd. for non power sector / merchandise mining. The block is located in Singrauli Coalfield, in Singrauli district, of Madhya Pradesh. The geographical location of the block is given at Figure 1 of this document.
11.1.2 The area is fairly flat with gentle undulations with ground sloping towards NE to E. The ground elevation varies from 374 mRL to 418 mRL. There are no perennial water courses in the proposed lease area. Seasonal water courses flow from centre of the block towards North East, South and SW. The drainage of the area is controlled by Mahan river flowing one km to three km NE of the block. Dhamar river, a tributary of Mahan river, flows from West to East on Southside, outside the block.
11.1.3 The Singrauli Coalfield is located mainly in Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) and partly in Uttarpradesh (U.P.). The coalfield is divided in two parts. The eastern part called Mohar sub- basin contains all presently working mines of UP. The western part spread over vast area has large coal occurrences. Through recent drilling, MECL has established presence of coal in the southern and western part of main basin, over large areas.
11.1.4 The detailed exploration of block was carried out by M/s Naresh Kumar & Company Pvt. Ltd., based on MECL drilled seven boreholes which proved the occurrence of coal. The detailed exploration involved drilling of 42 boreholes with cores, and 14 non coring boreholes. The drilling operations proved eight coal seams in block. Out of these only four seams are well developed throughout the block and hence workable.
11.1.5 These seams have variable gradient between 5º to 8º and 15º-20º. There are 13 faults in the area. The top seam incrops in the area at about 11.0m depth, while maximum depth of lowest workable seam, is 330 m.
11.1.6 The five workable coal seams have geological reserves of 71.22 Mt thickness above 1.2 m. It is proposed to work the mine by underground method so as to protect important surface features like villages, forests and seasonal water courses. Hence the mineable reserves have been calculated at 35.13 Mt. 59
11.1.7 It is proposed to have two inclines which will traverse all the seams. The inclines are planned at gradient of 1 in 8 and will be driven to touch all five workable seams one after another. For ventilation purposes a return air shaft is planned, upto top most seam.
11.1.8 The coal is planned to be extracted by Board and Pillar Method. The seams will be worked from top downward one after another. Only partial extraction will be carried out in areas with villages, forests and other important surface features so that subsidence is limited to permissible limits. In area with no restrictions, full extraction will be carried out. The method of extraction is shown at Fig 4 of this document.
11.1.9 The coal will be brought out of the mine by a conveyor in the main drift. The coal from faces, after passing through feeder breakers, will be delivered to the district conveyor for discharging on to seam conveyors. The conveyor will deliver coal to 500 t ground bunker on surface from which coal will be reclaimed and transported by closed tippers to Railway siding. 11.1.10 The surface infrastructure for the mine shall be constructed over an area about 17 ha of land within the proposed lease area. Colony will be constructed over non coal bearing area of about 16 ha near Purail village, around existing roads. 11.1.11 The life of the mine will be 35 years including development period of two years.
11.2 Description of Environment 11.2.1 The 700 ha proposed lease area is spread over lands of three villages and part of two compartments of Protected Forests. There is one village Pidara nearly fully inside the block area while number of houses of Purail village are within southern boundary of the block. Nearly ¾ area of Non-forest land belongs of Purail village. It is proposed that coal under village areas and forest lands will be partially extracted so that there is no damage to land. 11.2.2 The company will acquire about 17 ha of land within the lease area for mine entries, surface infrastructure etc. Another 16 ha lands, preferably non coal bearing Govt. land, will be acquired outside lease area for the colony.
11.2.3 These are a total of 43 Census villages within 10 km radius of proposed lease boundary, buffer zone area. The total land area of these villages as per 2001 Census data is 24397 ha. After adding 18, 652.6 ha of forest areas as measured from key plan, the total buffer zone area comes to 43049 ha.
11.2.4 There are 635 ha of revenue forests in two villages of buffer zone, bringing the total forest land 19287.6 ha or 44.8% of buffer zone area. Cultivated land totals 13003 ha or 30.2%. 732 ha or 5.6% of cultivated land was irrigated as per 2001 census. Nearly 6000 ha or 13.9% of land was not cultivated although it was culturable which was quite high proportion.
11.2.5 The area receives good rainfall averaging over 1250 mm in a year. The climate is marked by warmer day temperatures eight months in a year as recorded at nearest Meteorological station at Siddhi about 40 kms away. The day temperatures during November to February are usually below 20ºC. The relative humidity recorded at Sidhi varied between 23% to 85%. Relative Humidity below 30% was only recorded during months of April and May each year. The wind velocities recorded at Siddhi were usually below 5 kmph from October to January each year. Velocities go on increasing from February till September, when velocities above 5 kmph are recorded. The calm periods are below 25% during October to February but decrease further below 15% during rest of the months. 60
11.2.6 Most of the water courses in the area are seasonal. The two perennial water courses in the buffer zone area are Mahan Nadi and Dhamar Nadi. There are three tributary nallas of Dhamar Nadi which have some water till about December each year. Most of the other water courses are purely seasonal having water for a few days after rains. 11.2.7 The area has reasonably good ground water resources. Presently ground water resources are shallow ranging form 3m to 15m. The ground water levels, as surveyed from 4 wells in core zone are 5.7 m to 9.45 m bgl during post monsoon and 8.6 m to 12.35 m during pre-monsoon. The 42 buffer zone wells monitored had water levels from 3.0 m to 15 m bgl during post monsoon and 6 m to 18 m bgl during pre monsoon. The monitoring of ground water levels by CGWB has revealed that there has been no reduction in ground water level during last decade.
11.2.8 The net ground water availability of the area is 44.38 MCM and present consumption is 4.68 MCM for both core and buffer zone. In the next 25 year it is likely to increase to 5.44 MCM, which is 12.2% of water availability. The mine is expected to pump 1.56 MCM. Hence net ground water availability after mine pumping will be 37.38 MCM. The radius of influence of the underground mine will vary from 544 m to 772 m and will be limited to 430 m on down deep side. Thus there will be little impact on ground water availability.
11.2.9 The quality water environment was tested by collecting and analysing three surface water and six ground water samples from water bodies in the core and buffer zone. All three surface water samples had fairly high coliforms content. Out of seven ground water samples four open dugwell samples had coliforms between 2 to 4 MPN per 100 ml. Overall analysis shows that waters of the area are not polluted as all other parameters were well below the desirable levels of IS 10500 of 1991, the drinking water standard.
11.2.10 Air Quality was monitored at eight stations including one in the proposed lease area. The values of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were much below the prescribed limits for rural areas. The 3 3 maximum values were below 47 µg/m for PM 10 and below 14.6 µg/m for PM 2.5 . The values of 3 NO 2 and SO 2 extremely low, both being below 9µg/m . The remaining eight parameters were, either absent or well below detectable levels. The dustfall rates monitored at two locations were below 10 t/km 2/month. 11.2.11 Noise levels were monitored at eight locations. The noise levels recorded were below 50dB(A) at all eight stations during day time and 42 dB(A) during night time. The soil samples were collected from four locations. Two samples were from agricultural lands, one from forest land and one from barren land. The first three had medium fertility while later had poor fertility.
11.2.12 There are no National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, migratory corridors or any other eco-sensitive areas within 30 km radius of boundary of the proposed lease area. The nearest sanctuary is Sanjay Dubri which is over 30 km from lease boundary. The forests are fairly degraded due to anthropogenic factors. There are no endemic species of flora in the core and buffer zone. Only a few species of mammals, birds, reptiles and other fauna are found in the area. Two species of fauna fall in schedule I of Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. These are Peafowl or Peacock and Monitor Lizard.
11.2.13 The traffic on the roads in the surrounding areas is negligible. The traffic on Purail to Sarai road, which was the busiest, was less than 80 vehicles in the 24 hours, about 73% is due to three wheelers and two wheelers. 61
11.3 Anticipated Environmental Impact and Mitigation Measures
11.3.1 The mine will be worked by underground method at depth varying from 30 m to 330 m. The coal will be extracted by partial extraction method under forests, villages and surface water courses so that the subsidence at surface subsidence is within permissible limits. In balance areas the seams will be fully extracted, wherever thickness is more that 1.2 m, keeping angle of draw at 25º.
11.3.2 Only 16.5 ha. of agricultural land will be acquired for surface infrastructure. All the owners of the land will be offered jobs if they are willing to work under ground mine. Colony will be outside lease area, on govt. revenue land if available. Since no village or a even a single house will be displaced there is no R & R involved.
11.3.3 The impact on Air Quality due to underground Mining Operations will be limited. The main sources of air pollution will be handling of coal at surface and transport to railway siding about 15 km away. State of Arts water sprays at surface and road to railway siding will be installed to control the pollution. The transportation to siding will be done through closed dumpers.
11.3.4 The likely cause of water pollution will be suspended solids in water pumped from mine. These will be removed by passing water through settling tanks before discharging water to surface water courses.
11.3.5 Blasting for production will not be undertaken regularly at this mine. Whenever blasting done, the quantity blasted is unlikely to exceed 30 kg and use of delay will reduce it to less than 5 kg at any instance. Hence no particular measures are called for.
11.3.6 Impact on Soil Quality and Ameliorative Measures. Only 17 ha land within lease area will be utilized for surface infrastructure within the lease. The soil in the area will be affected. About 155 ha land will be affected by surface subsidence. The subsidence modelling has indicated that subsidence will not exceed 1.50m upt 30 years and 1.728 m after that period. The subsided land will be reclaimed and brought to level where agriculture operations can be resumed. No long term damage to fertility of land is expected.
11.3.7 Since the coal will be despatched by road to a siding 15 km away, only closed dumpers will be used. Water spraying will be done on the road to control raising of dust.
11.3.8 Mine Closure Plan and Post Mining Land Use
As the extraction of seams from top downward is completed entries to that seam will be sealed independently. By end of 35 th year, after equipment will be brought out of the mine before sealing the entries and disposed of through sale or transferred to other mines of the company. The mine is exhausted; working of each seam will already be independently sealed. The two main entry inclines and one ventilation shaft will be finally sealed and surface structures at their mouth will be dismantled.
Any other surface buildings and structures, if usable by surrounding villages will be handled over to the Panchayats of nearby villages. 62
11.4 Environmental Monitoring Programme
11.4.1 The environmental monitoring programme is proposed as under: a) Monitoring of Air Quality, Water Quality and Noise
i) Quarterly monitoring of PM10 and PM2.5 at both these villages with a third monitoring station will be located on down wind side from mine entries.
ii) The water overflowing from settling tanks will be analysed for pH, suspended solids, total dissolved solids and alkalinity once a month. The full analysis of water samples overflowing from settling tanks will be done half yearly.
iii) Monthly monitoring of noise levels at predetermined locations including Purail and Pidara villages, one around mine entries, one near colony and two on road to siding and one at railway siding. b. Surface subsidence, for initial five years, will be monitored as per DGMS stipulations. By that time full extraction of seams will be started and hence subsidence monitoring will be done at closure interval, every quarter
11.4.2 The collection and analysis of Air and Water samples will be outsourced. Noise levels monitoring and surface subsidence survey will be carried out departmentally.
11.5 Additional Studies
11.5.1 Besides Public Hearing, a social economic survey, Bio-Diversity Survey, Subsidence Modelling Study was carried out and study and analysis of Health data from secondary sources was done. The results of Public Hearing and analysis of Health data is detailed in Para 7.1 and 7.7 respectively.
11.5.2 A Socio Economic survey of five villages within 5 km of lease boundary was carried out. One of the villages is within core zone. Prior to that 2001Census data for these villages was collected and analysed. In order to update data a sample survey of 93 households or 10% of total households was carried out for various parameters like population, type and size of families, income and expenditure, literacy, civic amenities in villages etc. Besides household survey focus group discussions were held with the various groups.
11.5.3 The data was analysed to update the information derived from census data. In addition group discussions particularly with female groups and social leaders interviewed. Based on this data, a programme under Corporate Social Responsibility has been drawn out. The programme includes activities like promotion of use of modern agricultural techniques and tools, Animal husbandry and dairy, social forestry and horticulture, drinking water facilities, upgrading educational facilities etc.
11.5.4 A total expenditure of 9.0 crores has been proposed, 6.5 crores on capital account and 2.5 crores on revenue accounts. Details of yearwise expenditure on every major head and sub heads have been proposed. These details are included in the Annexure XVIIA & XVIIB of this document. 63
11.5.5 As prescribed in TOR Subsidence Modelling study has been undertaken through Department of Mining Engineering, Banaras Hindu University. The necessary data on Geotechnical parameters, sequence of extraction of seams and panels there in and other geological details were provided.
11.5.6 Since the life of the mine is 35 years, prediction of subsidence by computer simulated model at intervals at five years like 5, 10, 20, 30, and 35 was carried out. Final predictions were done at end of 38 years. The maximum subsidence predicted at the end of each time block was as well as maximum tensile strain was predicted. The maximum subsidence predicted was 1.728 m and maximum strain predicted was 19.98 mm per meter.
11.5.7 It was found that impact of subsidence may affect a village on North side and a part of road in the middle. Some modifications from full extraction to partial extraction have been suggested by the study. The management is going to implement these modifications. The mitigation measures proposed in the study will also be implemented.
11.6 Project Benefits
11.6.1 Production of 1.0 Mt of coal for 35 years. Will meet ever, increasing demand for coal in the country.
11.6.2 The mine will be a fully mechanized underground coal mine and hence will advance technology for underground mining.
11.6.3 Although part of block could be worked by opencast method, the management has taken a bold decision to work by underground method. This will minimize the damage to surface and environment.
11.6.4 The project will employ 796 persons directly. Out of these 90 will be unskilled and semiskilled jobs for which local people will get preference. In addition about 200 to 400 jobs will be created in secondary and tertiary sectors.
11.6.5 The company has proposed to spend substantial amount for CSR activities, details of which are given in Para 7.6.5 of this document.
11.7 EMP / Environment Management Plan
11.7.1 The details for Environment Monitoring is already described in Para 11.4 above
11.7.2 The mine will be a mechanised underground mine and under Coal Mines Regulations, 1957 will have to appoint a full time Safety Officer with specified qualifications and experience. He will also given, responsibility of Environment Management. He will be given special training in Environment Management.
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11.7.3 It will be his duty to ensure that
a. Environment Monitoring is carried out as per schedule and maintain records of the same.
b. He will ensure that dust suppression measures at surface and underground are properly functioning.
c. He will ensure that settling ponds are cleaned regularly.
d. Draw out programme for plantation and monitor the same.
e. He will ensure that any deficiencies are brought to the notice of the manager
f. Send reports of monitoring to State PCB and MoEF as per their stipulations
g. He will ensure that subsidence survey as prescribed by DGMS and subsidence modeling report are carried out.
11.7.4 He will directly report to the Mines Manager to whom he will give a regular status report on Environment. He will also convene a meeting of Sr. Officials every six months to discuss the status of Environment.
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12.0 DISCLOSURE OF CONSULTANTS ENGAGED
12.1 The consultants who prepared the EIA/EMP document are a private limited company, Minenviron Systems Pvt. Ltd., Nagpur. Minenviron Systems Pvt. Ltd. has been conditionally accreditated as EIA Consultant Organisation under QCI – NABET Scheme for Accreditation for three sectors under Category A.
12.2 The consultancy was started as a partnership firm in 1990 by a group of three experienced mining engineers, under leadership of Late Prof. G.S. Marwaha, having wide ranging involvement with a broad spectrum of developmental activity relating to mining industry, with over 75 years of experience between them. Minenviron Systems Pvt. Ltd. was set up later in November 1996.
The areas of expertise include: a) Preparation of Mining Plan / Mining Schemes under MCR, 1960, b) Preparation of EIA/EMP document for Mining Projects and Beneficiation Projects and Mineral Beneficiation including Public Hearing and defence in the MoEF, c) Preparation of Mine Closure Plans d) Preparation of Form 1 application for Mining Projects and defense in MoEF
12.3 Thus, the company’s work has been mostly connected with the mining industry. Since, inception we have prepared and got approved 24 EIA/EMP documents that is on average of one per year and 47 Mining Plans.
12.4 These numbers appear to be low because we believe in quality of work and not quantity. We have been updating contents of our EIA/EMP documents as per changing situation and requirements of the Ministry of Environment and Forest and its expert committee, from time to time.
12.5 Our clients have been leading public and private undertaking in the country, like SAIL, MOIL, Larsen & Toubro Cement Plant, ACC, KIOCL. Generally the clients engaged us because of quality of work and difficulties they faced with their mines/leases. We prepared final Mine Closure Plan for Kudremukh Iron Ore Mine which was located in ecosensitive areas of Westernghats.
12.6 We generally have been outsourcing collection of Baseline data unless the client collected it themselves. The consultants to whom data was outsourced are Envirotech Consult, a consultancy in Nagpur, run by two senior officers retired from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and to M/s Nilawar Laboratories, who are comparatively new entrants, but have one of the best equipped laboratories with ASS.
We also have number of consultants who carry out part of the work. For instance Sri J. Dutta, a Senior Geologist (full time), Shri N.K. Prasad for hydrogeological Survey, Dr. Arati Nandi for Socio-economic survey, Dr. N. M. Parhad for Water Pollution and Dr. M.L. Naik for biodiversity and flora/fauna survey. All these are accreditated as Functional Area Experts by Quality Council of India, / NABET .
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We are, perhaps, first consultants, who introduced flora-fauna survey way back in 1994- 95 and undertaken six such surveys. We are, perhaps, first consultants, who introduced the Concept of Mine Closure Plan, when we prepared a EIA/EMP document for a proposed coal project back in 1998.
12.7 Presently, after demise of Prof. Marwaha in May 2000, the consultancy is headed by Shri U.W. Datey, a Mining Engineer with experience of over 50 years & Shri N.M. Sangode a Mining Engineer.
12.7.1 Shri Datey graduated from Indian School of Mines in 1960. After completing training in coal mines he went to United Kingdome as Assam Oil Company Scholar and joined Birmingham University for post graduation research. After completing M.Sc. degree in 1963, Shri Datey joined as ‘Trainee’ with National Coal Board, United Kingdom. After returning to India in 1964, he joined Central Mining Research Station, Dhanbad as Scientist incharge of Operations Research Division. Shri Datey carried out several studies in coal mines and authored a number of papers based on these studies.
Shri Datey joined the Bastacolla Colliery in 1970 and was transferred to headquarter of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. in 1973, where he worked as Technical Secretary to the various Directors till 1980. During this period Shri Datey acted as lawyer in Several Court of Enquiries set up after major accidents in Coal Mines. After 1980, Shri Datey joined a private Explosive Company as General Manager Marketing and was instrumental in introducing bulk loaded ammonium nitrate in coal mines.
Shri Datey joined Prof. Marwaha to start a consultancy in 1990. The consultancy mainly operated in the field of preparation of Statutory Mining Plans, Preparation of Environment Impact Assessment / Environment Management Plans etc. Shri Datey has now over two decades of experience in Environmental Field.
12.7.2 Shri N.M. Sangode, a graduate mining Engineer of 1967 batch from ISM. Dhanbad, worked in large U/G mines of pyrites (PPCL), Gold (KGF), copper, Manganese and large opencast mines of iron and manganese in managerial capacities for six years. Obtained unrestricted, First Class Mines Managers Certificate of Competency from D.G.M.S. and MBA in Management studies from Leeds University, U.K. Then joined IBM in 1976 and worked as a regulatory authority from 1976 to 2001. As Regional Controller of Mines, Goa Region and Central Zone and Controller of Mines, South Zone, processed and approved large number of mining plans and thus contributed emensely to the mining industry in systematic and scientific development of mines and in containing environmental pollution in large mechanized mines. As Director (Training) IBM, organized several Management Development Programmes for Junior and Senior Officers of IBM and for executives from Industry on preparation of Scientific Mining Plans and Environment Management Plans throughout the country including Assam and Nagaland. Many technical consultancy assignments handled by IBM under his expert guidance during his tenure as Head of Technical consultancy, mining Research and Publication Division of IBM. Based on his MBA thesis, a Central Ore Processing Laboratory and 50 tpd Pilot plant, biggest in Asia was established in Nagpur by IBM with United Nations Financial Assistance. Mr. Sangode was selected through UPSC as “Advisor (Science and Technology)” in the Ministry of Mines, Government of India in 1998-99. However, he missed the opportunity to work, as the post was abolished by the Ministry. 67
Presently, working with Minenviron Systems Pvt. Ltd. for over a decade as Mining and Environmental Consultant and completed successfully several prestigious assignments for KIOCL, SAIL, MOIL, MECL, M/s Murli Agro, Usha Martin Ltd., MSPL, RMMPL, M/s Rio- Tinto etc. related to Mining Plans, EIA/EMPs and Forest and Environmental Clearances.
12.7.3 Both Shri Datey and Shri Sangode are approved as EIA Coordinators for Mining Sector Projects and several functional areas.
12.8 The consultancy has full-fledged office with four full time staff members including one draftsman, who is working with us almost since inception.
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