Lok Sabha Question No. 3695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Clean Coal Technology
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: CHINTAMANI MALVIYA, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, SHER SINGH GHUBAYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3695 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2016

## Clean Coal Technology

## 3695. SHRI PROF. CHINTAMANI MALVIYA:

DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

DR BHARATIBEN SHYAL:

SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has taken any steps to use clean coal technology and to reduce the air pollution due to coal mining activities in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated a new action plan in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER,    NEW  AND  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  AND  MINES  (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (d):  In  order  to  reduce  pollution  due  to  coal  mining,  coal  companies  are  using environmental friendly technologies in its operation. This includes increased use of surface miners  in  opencast  mines,  mist  spraying  of  transport  roads,  transportation  of  coal  through railways/ Merry-go-round (MGR)/ conveyors and tube conveyors etc.

The  following  additional  measures  have  been  taken  by  coal  companies  to  reduce  air pollution:

- a) Suitable water spraying systems for arresting fugitive dust in roads, washeries, CHPs, Feeder  Breakers,  Crushers,  coal  transfer  points  and  coal  stock  areas  are  being installed.  Mist  spray  systems  have  been  introduced  along  conveyor  routes,  transfer points  and  on  bunkers.    Mobile  water  sprinkling  has  been  provided  in  all  the  haul roads  of  OC  mines.  In  addition  to  these,  the  projects  are  enhancing  the  water sprinkling  through  engagement  of  contractual  water  tankers.  Automatic  sprinklers have also been installed in CHPs. Trucks are being covered with tarpaulin for coal transport.
- b) Blacktopping, strengthening of coal transportation roads are regularly and scientifically being done.
- c) Plantation around the mining activity areas, along roads to create green belts in and around the mines.
- d) Switching to eco-friendly mode of transport: In order to reduce the dust pollution due to road transportation eco-friendly measures are being adopted. Coal to thermal power stations is transported by rail / series of belt conveyors & rail heads are constructed to
5. make  rail  head  available  nearer  to  mine  to  reduce  road  transportation.  CIL  have constructed / are constructing integrated CHP for rapid loading wagon and trucks.
- e) In order to prevent dust at source itself, use of dust extractors / wet drilling systems are being undertaken.
- f) Controlled blasting / habitation away from the mines have been introduced as far as possible.
- g) Adoption of modern technologies like Surface Miners at different subsidiaries of CIL, which  generates  lesser  air  borne  pollution  for  carrying  out  mining  activities  as compared to conventional methods as drilling & blasting is eliminated.
- h) Proper maintenance of equipment to minimize generation of gaseous pollutants.
- i) Ambient air quality in and around the mine site is being monitored fortnightly. There are  required  numbers  of  ambient  air  quality  monitoring  stations,  as  stipulated  in environmental rules and regulations which are being monitored on fortnightly basis as per Environment (Protection) Act, 2006, and reports are regularly submitted to SPCBs and MOEF.

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