Lok Sabha Question No. 51 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Pollution due to Coal Mining
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pashupati Nath Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 51

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Pollution due to Coal Mining

## *51. SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  any  measures  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  control  the  air  pollution caused by coal mining in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  pollution  caused  by  mining  in  Dhanbad Parliamentary Constituency also known as the coal capital of the country;
- (d) whether any concrete measures are being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARAS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 51 DUE FOR REPLY ON 24.07.2023 REGARDING 'POLLUTION DUE TO COAL MINING' RAISED BY SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

(a) & (b)

To control the air pollution caused by coal mining in the country, 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  as  amended  from  time  to  time,  which  deals  with  the  process  of  granting  Environmental Clearance (EC) after having comprehensive analysis of EIA reports prepared by the coal companies.

The  Government  has  also  prescribed  environmental  standards  for  the  coal  mining  activities.  The respective  SPCBs/PCCs issue 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 Water and Air Acts.

In addition, to monitor the air quality of project site in coal mining areas/washeries, a condition for installing the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) is prescribed in the Environment Clearance. As per available information, M/s Coal India Limited (CIL) has installed 72 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAQMS) for air quality monitoring. The CIL has also installed 70 PM10 Analyser through its subsidiaries namely M/s Eastern Coalfields Limited, M/s Central Coalfields Limited and M/s Bharat Coking Coal Limited including 7 PM10 analysers in coal washeries.

(c) to (e)

Government  is  well  aware  of  the  pollution  caused  by  mining  in  Dhanbad  also  known  as  the  coal capital  of  the  country.  Different  sources  of  pollution  including  that  by  mining  is  continuously monitored.

To  improve  air  quality  in  major  cities,  Government  has  launched  National  Clean  Air  Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country. Taking into account the available international experiences and national studies, the tentative national level target under NCAP is 20%-30% reduction of particulate matter concentration by 2024.

Under NCAP, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified 131 cities (including 123 nonattainment cities exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which were notified to protect human health) including Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur cities of Jharkahnd State. City action plan of Dhanbad covering action to control air pollution including coal mines, collieries and coal washeries and action taken by the coal mines companies is annexed as Annexure-I.

The measures taken to reduce the pollution caused by mining in Dhanbad Parliamentary Constituency inter-alia include:

-  All  mines  of  BCCL  operate  as  per  the  approved  Environment  Impact  Assessment  Environment  Management  Plan  (EIA-EMP)  and  Environmental  Clearance  granted  by Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
-  All coal transport is done through tarpaulin covered trucks/tippers.
-  All  coal  transport  contracts  and  tenders  floated  have  specific  and  mandatory  clause  of transport of coal through tarpaulin covered trucks.
-  Water Sprinklers both conventional mobile type, fixed and mist type are operational to reduce fugitive dust from coal transport.
-  Apart  from  this,  BCCL  has  adopted  modern  technology  in  sprinkling  and  deployed  Truck Mounted Fog Canons, Trolley Mounted Fog Canons.
-  Coal Handling Plants (CHPs) are being enclosed to reduce coal dust emission outside CHP.
-  Drills are provided with dust extractors/wet drilling mechanism.
-  Noise  generation  by  equipment  is  kept  under  control  by  regular  maintenance.  Blasting operations are carried out between 14:00 to 15:00 hours only i.e. during change of shifts. Earmuffs and ear-plugs are provided to employees wherever required.
-  Garland Drains and Toe walls have been constructed around the OB dumps in various areas of BCCL.
-  Stone Pitching/Check Dams/Toe Walls has been constructed in various areas of BCCL along various nadi/jore and nallah.
-  Avenue  plantation  is  being  carried  out  along  coal  transportation  route  with  help  of  State Forest Department to reduce pollution from coal transportation.
-  Oil and Grease trap have been installed/constructed in Workshops for treatment of workshop effluents.
-  For  Disposal  of  Hazardous  solid  waste  containing  oil,  Authorization  from  State  Pollution Control Board is duly taken and these wastes are stored in specifically constructed sheds and disposed off through authorized Common Treatment Storage & Disposal Site, available in the state.
-  Mine water is utilized gainfully and supplied to nearby population for community purposes (Drinking, irrigation, domestic use etc.)
-  BCCL has also entrusted Forest Research  Institute (FRI), Dehradun for technical  guidance and monitoring of Ecological restoration works carried out in BCCL.
-  Afforestation/Eco-Restoration in an area of 1596.03 ha has been carried out.

******

## Annexure-I

## Action plan for prevention and control of air pollution for mine/collieries of BCCL which is to be followed on continuous basis

| Sl.   | Environmen tal   | Activities                                  | Current                                                                                | Future Action Plan                                                                | Future Action Plan                                                                            | Future Action Plan                             |
|-------|------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| No    | Aspect           |                                             | Practices                                                                              | Short Term(by August 2020)                                                        | Mid Term (byAugust202 2)                                                                      | Long Term (by August 2024)                     |
| 1     | Ambient Air      | Covered Transportation                      | This is being practiced                                                                | Strict enforcement and random audits with Pollution Control Board                 | Mechanically covered trucks shall be deployed on availability withOEM (CIL referred for same) |                                                |
| 1     | Ambient Air      | Permanent Pucca Transportati on Road        | Road made up of local stones and OB/ Pucca                                             |                                                                                   | Will be compacted to control fugitive dust                                                    | Will be black topped in Non- Coal Bearing Area |
| 1     | Ambient Air      | Sweeping of road                            |                                                                                        | Manual sweeping of sides of road of Major NH through which transportation is done | Mechanical sweeping will be done                                                              |                                                |
| 1     |                  | Drilling with Dust extract or /wet drilling | Some drills are equipped with dust extractor while some are equipped with wet drilling |                                                                                   | All new and old drills will be fitted with wet drilling and dust extractor system             |                                                |

| Sprinkling arrangements at Siding/ Permanent Transportation routes/Coal Dumps   | Mobile sprinkling on haul roads, Fixed sprinkling at feeder brakers and washeries   | Mobile water sprinkling frequency will be increased. Road sides of major NH being used will manually broomed   | Fixed Sprinkler shall be installed at Railways siding, FEEDER/Braker at dust generating sources.   | Fixed Sprinklers shall be installed at Railways siding, Feeder/Braker at dust generating sources. Mist type mobile sprinklers will be used for haul roads and unloading operations.   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

## Action plan for prevention and control of air pollution for Coal Washeries of BCCL which is to be followed on continuous basis

|   S. No | Action Point                                                                                                                                                                                      | Action Plan for stakeholders                                                           | Compliance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | The ambient air of the premises of coal washeries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on reject dumps and due to uncovered processing of coal | a) The covering of loaded transport vehicles will be compulsory.                       | Coal transportation from out underground colliers takes place through underground belt conveyor network system directly to captive washery. Coal transportation through trucks is done only from BCCL, mines till washery and it is ensured that only optimally loaded trucks with proper tarpaulin cover are allowed into the washery premises Clean coal is dispatched via rail from the Rail-yard situated in the washery premises. |
|       1 | The ambient air of the premises of coal washeries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on reject dumps and due to uncovered processing of coal | b) All transport roads will be made pucca.                                             | All the internal roads of the washery have been concreted while the approach roads are black-topped.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       1 | The ambient air of the premises of coal washeries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on reject dumps and due to uncovered processing of coal | c) Reject dumps will be enclosed by pucca boundary wall to prevent entry through them. | Rejects are already kept in stockyards enclosed by pucca boundary wall and rejects are sold off regularly to various customers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|       1 | The ambient air of the premises of coal washeries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on reject dumps and due to uncovered processing of coal | d) All processing (crushing screening, etc) chambers of coal will be covered.          | All processing chambers are provided with enclosures. Conveyer belts in washery are covered on top and both sides. In addition, dry fog system is installed at all transfer points of CHP.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|       1 | The ambient air of the premises of coal washeries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on reject dumps and due to uncovered processing of coal | e) Fixed type of water sprinklers will be installed in all dust prone areas.           | Fixed water sprinklers are installed in internal roads of washery for dust suppression. In addition, movable water sprinklers are also being deployed on the roads for dust suppression.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

## Action plan for prevention and control of air pollution for Coal Mines of Tata Steel Limited, Jharia which is to be followed on continuous basis

| Action Point                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Action Plan for stakeholders                                                                                                                                                         | Compliance by Tata Steel Limited, Jharia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| The ambient air of the collieries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on OB dumps and due to drilling & blasting and uncontrolled emission of their boilers. | a.The covering of loaded transport vehicles will be compulsory.                                                                                                                      | Coal transportation from our underground colliers takes place through underground belt conveyor network system directly to; our washeries only sand is transported via tarpaulin covered trucks from riverbed to sands towing yard.                                                                 |
| The ambient air of the collieries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on OB dumps and due to drilling & blasting and uncontrolled emission of their boilers. | b.Coal Transport roads and long- time transport road shall be made pucca. New haul roads will be taken in use after making it pucca.                                                 | This is not applicable for underground mines. However, the approach hroads of the underground collieries are already made pucca.                                                                                                                                                                    |
| The ambient air of the collieries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on OB dumps and due to drilling & blasting and uncontrolled emission of their boilers. | c.OB dumps will be enclosed bypucca boundary wall to prevent entry through them.                                                                                                     | Not applicable as Tata Steel is presently operating underground mines only. Earlier, we had one open cast mine viz. Kalimela OCB for which production has been ceased since Nov'14. There is retention wall of around 2200 meters that exist around the dump of OCP Kalimela.                       |
| The ambient air of the collieries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on OB dumps and due to drilling & blasting and uncontrolled emission of their boilers. | d.All drillings shall be done with dust containment and suppression systems. The fixed type sprinklers will be installed in all dust prone areas, including all coal stock &sidings. | Not applicable as this is for open-cast mine. The Kalimela OCP is already closed and back-filling of the mine void is being done. Raw coal is directly transported from underground mines to washery via belt conveyor networks where water sprinkling arrangements are present at transfer points. |
| The ambient air of the collieries remains dusty due to pliance of uncovered trucks and those too on kutcha haul roads and on OB dumps and due to drilling & blasting and uncontrolled emission of their boilers. | e. The prudent operational practices will be adopted to control dust.                                                                                                                | The best environmental practices adopted by Tata Steel Jharia Division                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |