PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED CLUSTER – 3 COMPRISING OF 3 MIXED (UG + OC) MINES OF PRODUCTION CAPACITY 3.33 MTPA (NORMATIVE) AND 3.97 MTPA (PEAK) IN A COMBINED ML AREA OF 1628 Ha LOCATED IN RANIGANJ COALFIELDS UNDER KALYA, JEMARI AND FULBERIABOLKUNDA GRAM PANCHAYATS, DIST. – BURDWAN, WEST BENGAL, PROPOSED BY M/S EASTERN COALFIELDS LIMITED, HELD ON 28.03.2014 AT 12:00 HRS. AT THE “NANDANIK COMMUNITY HALL” AT RUPNARAYANPUR UNDER SALANPUR PANCHAYAT SAMITY, DIST. – BURDWAN, WEST BENGAL.
M/s Eastern Coalfields Limited submitted an application to West Bengal Pollution Control Board for conducting a Public Hearing for the proposed Cluster3 comprising of 3 Mixed (UG + OC) Mines of production capacity 3.33 MTPA (Normative) and 3.97 MTPA (Peak) in a combined ML area of 1628 Ha in Raniganj Coalfields under Kalya, Jemari and FulberiBolkunda Gram Panchayats, Dist. – Burdwan, West Bengal. As per the EIA Notification S.O. 1533 dated 14th September, 2006 of the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India, 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 28.03.2014 at 12:00 Hrs. at “Nandanik Community Hall” at Rupnarayanpur under Salanpur Panchayat Samity, Dist. Burdwan, West Bengal. All the panel members were present in the hearing. Sri Pranab Biswas, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. Burdwan 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 Debashis Sarkar, Sr. 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 Cluster3 (3 Mixed Mines of normal production capacity 3.33 MTPA with a peak production capacity of 3.97 MTPA in a combined ML area of 1628 Ha) in Raniganj Coalfields, under Kalya, Jemari and FulberiBolkunda Gram Panchayats Dist. – Burdwan, West Bengal.
Sri Pranab Biswas, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. – Burdwan 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 and also invited suggestions from the public present in the hearing. He further told that since the local people are directly affected, so their views and suggestions are important and will be heard & noted.
Sri Sumanta Ganguly of CMPDI on behalf of M/s. Eastern Coalfields Ltd. welcomed the audience present. He has mentioned that there are 111 existing mines under E.C.L. and they have been grouped into 13 Clusters. He narrated about the concept of cluster, proposed project details of Cluster No.3, present environmental scenario including ambient air quality, water quality, land use, environmental impact, noise pollution and the proposed corporate policy for environmental management through Power Point presentation emphasizing on the likely environmental impacts arising out of the same as well as the proposed pollution abatement / mitigation measures to be taken by the project proponent and their Environment monitoring programme. He mentioned that Cluster3 consists of 3 Mixed (UG + OC) Mines, namely Dabur, Bonjemehari and Sangramgarh Mines, their leasehold areas, production capacities (Normative / Peak) and mine life.
Sri Sumanta Ganguly further mentioned that the solid wastes generated due to mining activity will be disposed off in environment friendly manner. He told that cultivable land will be kept undisturbed, only barren land will be used for mining purposes. It was also informed that the wastewater generated during mining process will be reused for mining and will be utilised for agricultural, dust suppression and green belt development and will be supplied to the local villages through pipelines after necessary treatment. He further informed that plantation will be carried on 595 Ha of land in the whole mine life at various locations in this cluster. 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 necessary fund (@Rs.5 per Tonne of coal mining) as per Govt. Rules for CSR purpose.
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: Page 1 of 2 Sri Gouranga Tewari of village Shandi welcomed the project proposal of E.C.L. He mentioned that E.C.L. is a well established organization but they are suffering from asthma and various diseases from huge dust generated due to operation of the existing Sangrmgarh OCP. He also told there is crisis of water, very poor road condition due to coal transportation from Dabur colliery and no medical facility. He further told that it is very difficult for school students to travel due to irregular blasting operation without taking any protection.
Sri Maloy Mahato, village Dabur welcomed the project. He demanded for pollution free environment, prevention of dust pollution by proper & adequate water sprinkling, intensive plantation on OB dump area and monitoring programme.
Sri Manotosh Mahato, village Dabur apprehended that there is depletion of water level in that area due to mining. He suggested that blasting operation should not be undertaken during the period when the school students pass through that area. He demanded for pollution free environment, supply of water and intensive plantation.
Sri Balai Chandra Das, Rupnarayanpur welcomed the project and mentioned that colliery should run as it improves the socioeconomic condition of the people residing in the area. He told that huge quantity of dust generates due to blasting operation. Water sprinkling is done but not adequate. Local people experiences with vibration due to blasting and plying of coal loaded dumpers. He suggested that care should be taken for dust suppression by adequate sprinkling and intensive plantation programme should also be taken.
Sri Chanchal Kumar Pal, Dhandabad village told that road from Daban to Benjemehari colliery is full of dust. Water sprinkling is done but not adequate. Adequate water sprinkling should be done for dust suppression.
Sri Deepak Kumar Adhikary, Dhandabad village welcomed the proposed project of ECL. He told that roads got damage due to plying of coal loaded dumpers. These roads should be repaired immediately, water sprinkling is insufficient and needs to be increased, drinking water facility and medical facility should be improved.
Sri Somenath Bir and Sri Balaram Bir, Jemari village welcomed the proposed project as it will improve the socioeconomic condition of the villagers. They told that more water sprinkling should be done, particularly during summer season for dust suppression and blasting operation should be done in controlled manner.
Sri A.K. Singh, G.M., Salanpur Area, ECL welcomed the audience present in the meeting and for their valuable suggestion. He assured that water sprinkling arrangement will be intensified for better dust suppression. He told that ECL has already taken up CSR programme in the local villages. He further mentioned that ECL has taken up intensive plantation programme in and around the mining area. He told that blasting is being done through latest technique and as per the guidelines of DGMS. He further added that suggestions and opinion of the people present in the Public Hearing will be considered by ECL.
Sri Pranab Biswas, Additional District Magistrate (Development), Dist. – Burdwan mentioned that notification of this public hearing was published in English and Bengali news papers. He told that daily life of people of this area is dependent on E.C.L. He further 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 in this public hearing. 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 procedure. He then thanked the audience for their active participation in the public hearing and giving their valuable suggestions.
Sri Debashis Sarkar, Sri Pranab Biswas, Senior Environmental Engineer, Additional District Magistrate (Dev.), West Bengal Pollution Control Board Dist. – Burdwan
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