Lok Sabha Question No. 450 (STARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Environmental Impact of Coal Mining Activities
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. 450

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Environmental Impact of Coal Mining Activities

## *450.   SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  serious  environmental  and  social concerns, including, air, noise, water pollution and land degradation caused by coal mining activities;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  eighty  three  per  cent  of  all  coal  mining  is undertaken  by  Coal  India  Limited  and  its  subsidiaries  which  are  openly  flouting environmental norms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that all mines/washeries have air quality monitoring  stations  equipped  with  connectivity  to  the  server  of  State  Pollution Control Boards to facilitate online monitoring of ambient air quality?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  450  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  03.04.2023  REGARDING 'ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COAL MINING ACTIVITIES' BY SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL

- (a) to (c) In order to assess the possible environment and social impacts due to various project activities including coal mining, the Central Government has devised the process of Environment  Impact  Assessment,  as  a  regulatory  tool  under  the  provision  of Environment (Protection) Act,  1986.  Under  the said  Act,  Ministry  of  Environment, Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has  notified  the  Environment  Impact Assessment  (EIA)  Notification,  2006  and  subsequentlyamended  from  time  to  time, which  deals  in  the  process  of  granting  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  after  having comprehensive  analysis  of  EIA  reports  prepared  by  the  coal  companies.  The  coal mining projects accordingly are required to obtain the prior Environment Clearance under the EIA, Notification 2006.

It  is  to  mention  that  Coal  mining  works  are  a  site  specific  activity  and  may  cause various impacts which can be ameliorated by taking necessary ameliorative measures. Any likely impacts due to coal mining activities on ambient air, water, land and noise levels  at  project  site  along  with  social  impact  in  nearby  areas,are  assessed  in  EIA report  and  accordingly  itsmitigation  measures  areincorporated  in  theEnvironmental Management Plan (EMP) report.

Apart  from  above,  the  concerns  of  local  affected  persons  and  others  who  have plausible stake in the environmental impacts of the project or activity,are addressed through the process of public consultation/hearing under the EIA, Notification, 2006. The project  proponents  are  required  to  address  the  issues  appropriately  in  EIA  and EMP  reportsarising  from  public  consultation  with  budgetary  provision.  The  EIA &EMP are evaluated and assessed by Expert Appraisal Committee, comprising the domain  experts  of  mining  sector,  andbased  on  their  recommendations  MoEF&CC consider for granting the Environment Clearance (EC) to coal mining projects.

In addition any forest diversion required for coal mining activities are covered under the provision of Forest (Conservation), Act, 1980. The Coal companies are required to take separate Forest Clearance (FC) under the said Act to assess the amount of land degradation.

The  coal  mines  &  subsidiaries  under  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL)commences  their operation after obtaining Environment,Forestry Clearance and other statutory permissions  from  the  State  Government.  The  pollution  control  measures  as  per EIA/EMP  reports  and  conditions  laid  down  in  EC  &  FC  are  required  to  be implemented by the project proponent to minimize the damage caused to environment due to mining. The pollution control norms are also monitored by the concerned State Pollution  Control  Board  (SPCB)  and  Union  Terrortries  (UTs).  The  respective SPCBs/UTsissues the Consent to Operate under the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to oversee the compliance of emissions/effluent standards and take action against violators under the provision of said Water and Air Acts.

As  per  the  EIA  Notification,  as  amended,  the  Project  Proponents  are  mandated  to submit six monthly compliance reports to the concerned Integrated Regional Office (IRO) of the Ministry.

In order to monitor the online air quality of project site in coal mining areas/washeries,  a  condition  for  installing  the  continuous  air  quality  monitoring station is prescribed with aim to integrate the environmental data with the server of Central & State Pollution Control Boards. MoEF&CC through its Integrated Regional Offices monitors the compliance of this condition on regular basis.

As per information made available by the Ministry of Coal, Subsidiaries of M/s CIL has installed 72 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), of which 57 CAAQMS are linked to the Pollution Control Board. CIL has also installed 68 PM10 Analyser in M/s Eastern Coalfields Limited, M/s Central Coalfields Limited &  M/s  Bharat  Coking  Coal  Limited,  which  are  linked  with  concerned  SPCBs including Six PM 10 analysers are installed in coal washeries.

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