11.0 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

11.1

Project Location and Project Description

…

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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.

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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.

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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 PM10 and PM2.5 were much below the prescribed limits for rural areas. The

maximum values were below 47µg/m3 for PM10 and below 14.6µg/m

3 for PM2.5. The values of

NO2 and SO2 extremely low, both being below 9µg/m3. The remaining eight parameters were,

either absent or well below detectable levels. The dustfall rates monitored at two locations were

below 10 t/km2/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.

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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 35th 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.

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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.

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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.

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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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