Lok Sabha Question No. 1524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Transportation of Coal in Uncovered Vehicles
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, P.R. SUNDARAM, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## Transportation of Coal in Uncovered Vehicles

## 1524. DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) whether transportation of coal in uncovered vehicles is a major contributor to pollution levels and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  mandate  the  use  of  covered  vehicles  for transportation of coal and if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  coal  transportation  does  not  contribute  to pollution especially in urban areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND RAILWAYS ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

(a) & (b): Covered trucks prevent spillage of coal. Only in the event, when uncovered trucks are loaded over the brim level, lead to spillage of coal at the curves of Haul roads which gets crushed with  the  tyre  and  become  airborne.  In  order  to  mandate  the  use  of  covered  vehicles  for transportation of coal, Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (MOEF&CC) while granting  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  includes  evacuation  of  coal  in  covered  trucks  in  the general condition of permission. Further, Consent to Operate (CTO) under Air Act 1981, issued by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB), also gives this condition for prevention of air pollution.

(c): The  Government  stipulates  general  and  specific  conditions  in  EC  and  Consents  under  air pollution to ensure the control of dust emissions. In addition to this, following steps are taken by Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries to control dust pollution due to coal transportation:

- i) Deployment  of  mobile  sprinklers  along  haul  roads  to  control  dust  generated  by  truck movement and dumpers. Optimum loading of coal trucks to avoid spillage on roads.
2. ii) Blacktopping, strengthening of coal transportation roads regularly and scientifically.
3. iii) Plantation  in  the  mining  activity  areas,  along  roads  to  create  green  belts  in  and  around  the mines. Plantation along avenues are also being carried out. iv) Transportation of Coal to thermal power stations by rail / series of belt conveyors. Railway sidings are constructed to make  rail head available nearer to mine  to reduce road transportation. v) Construction of integrated Coal Handling Plant (CHP) for rapid loading wagon and trucks. vi) Adoption  of  tube  conveyors  for  transportation  of  coal  to  thermal  power  plant  in  an environment friendly way. Monitoring of ambient air quality in and around the mine site fortnightly as per Environment
4. ********
5. vii) (Protection) Act, 2006.