Lok Sabha Question No. 142 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Dumping of Coal Mine Waste
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *142 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025

## Dumping of Coal Mine Waste

*142. Shri Pradyut Bordoloi:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the dumping of coal mining waste in the Tikak Colliery Area of Ledo by North Eastern Coalfields Coal India Limited (NEC CIL) alongwith the land occupied by  dumping  grounds  and  the  quantity  of  waste  dumped  there  and  the  number  of families affected therefrom;

(b) whether Coal India Limited (CIL) has plans to construct any new coal dumping grounds in Tinsukia district and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  NEC  CIL's  Grievance  Complaints  and  Redressal  Cell  has  received complaints regarding the expansion of dumping grounds in Ledo and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether CIL has conducted surveys to assess the impact of coal dumping from its mines in Ledo and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of the mitigation measures put in place to prevent existing and proposed coal dumping grounds from affecting the region's environment?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL & MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  142  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  30.07.2025 ASKED BY SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI, HON'BLE M.P., REGARDING 'DUMPING OF COAL MINE WASTE'.

(a): Tikak  Extension  Opencast  (OC)  is  the  only  operating  mine  of  North  Eastern Coalfields  (NEC),  and  the  mining  operation  is  carried  out  systematically  and scientifically in accordance with the applicable Acts, Rules, and Regulations, including Environmental laws.

It is pertinent to inform that the mining operation of Tikak extension OC has been put to a complete halt w.e.f. 01.06.2025 due to the non-availability of dumping space. The matter has been intimated to the State Government.

The land for the overburden dump of Tikak Extension OCP, belongs to Coal India Limited.  No  Objection  Certificate  for  the  land  for  overburden  dumping  of  Tikak Extension OCP has been obtained by NEC from the District Administration of Tinsukia.

The area covered by the overburden dumping ground of Tikak Extension OCP as per project report is about 51.91 hectares. The total quantity of overburden/coal mining waste  dumped  in  the  designated  dump  till  date  is  approximately,  8  Million  Cubic Meters.

Around 292 families have encroached on the designated overburden dumping ground of  Tikak  Extension  OCP.  The  encroachers  or  non-legal  title  holders  cannot  be categorized as 'affected family' for extending necessary resettlement or rehabilitation benefits/relief under the Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy of Coal India Limited as well as under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition , Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 ( RFCT&LARR Act, 2013).

(b): Coal India Limited has no plan to construct any new coal dumping grounds in Tinsukia district.

(c): NEC/ CIL has not received any complaints under the Grievance Complaints and Redressal Cell. However, in connection with the overburden dumping issue of Tikak Extension OCP, NEC/CIL has received Notices/Orders from:

1. Hon'ble National Human Rights Commission, dated 07.11.2024.
2. Hon'ble Assam Human Rights Commission, dated 17.01.2025
3. Hon'ble National Commission for Scheduled tribes, dated 28.01.2025

NEC has submitted appropriate replies to the above-mentioned Hon'ble Commissions.

(d):  The  mining  activities  in  Tikak  Extension  OCP  was  started  after  obtaining Environmental Clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC),  for  which  an  Environmental  Impact  Assessment  and  Environmental Management Plan report was prepared and submitted to MoEFCC  during Environmental Clearance.

(e): Mitigation measures implemented to minimize the environmental impact of coal dumping grounds include::-

1. The effluent water generated form Tikak Extension Open Cast Project has been treated to meet the discharge standards notified by the various Authorities, such as the Central Pollution Control Board/ State Pollution Control Board/ Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change. The same report is submitted to State  Pollution  Control  Board,  Assam  and  regional  office  of  Ministry  of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
2. The OB dump of Tikak Extension OC is done scientifically based on scientific studies that were carried out to ensure slope stability. The OB dumping is done as per dumping schedule of the project report and the construction of retaining toe wall around the dump is done to prevent washing away of overburden and shall continue as the dumping progresses.
3. Third party evaluation of the Environmental Quality and status of the mine by NEC/CIL along with monitoring of species of fishes in nearby rivers is done by reputed  Institute  of  Excellence  to  ensure  that  there  is  no  damage  to environment and public health.
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