Lok Sabha Question No. 67 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Coal Mine Overburden (OB) Dumps
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Pashupati Nath Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *67 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## Coal Mine Overburden (OB) Dumps

## †*67. SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  problems  arising  out  of  instability  of  Coal  Mines Overburden (OB) dumps of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said OB dumps is a major problem in the Coal Mines of the Dhanbad Parliamentary Constituency (Known as the Coal Capital of the country);
- (d) whether the Government proposed to rehabilitate the displaced people by flattening the said land and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to take any initiative in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and

(f) if not, the details of the manner in which the people living adjacent to the mining areas are likely to find solution to the serious problems of OB dumps?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

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

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 67 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024 ASKED BY SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH, HON'BLE MP REGARDING 'COAL MINE OVERBURDEN (OB) DUMPS'.

(a): Yes, Ministry of Coal is aware of the problems arising out of instability of coal mines overburden (OB) dumps of the country.

(b): The major problem associated with the instability of overburden dumps, if any, is slide of dump material due to failure of OB dump. However, there are various statutory provisions made under Reg. no. 108 of Coal Mines Regulation (CMR)-2017 to prevent such failure of slopes of OB / waste dumps.

(c): The  said  OB  dumps  is  not  a  major  problem  at  the  coal  mines  of  the  Dhanbad  Parliamentary Constituency, because in the coal mines of BCCL under Ministry of Coal all the necessary and required precautionary measures are taken as per statutory provisions made under Reg No. 108 of Coal Mines Regulation-2017 and various conditions of Environmental Clearance (EC) to prevent any untoward incidents arising out of instability of OB dumps.

(d): BCCL under Ministry of Coal has multi-seam workings, as such, presently there is no proposal to rehabilitate the displaced people by flattening the said land.

(e) and (f): To address the problem of OB dumps, provisions have been made in the Regulation 106 of the Coal Mines regulations 2017 (CMR, 2017), requiring scientific study before starting an opencast coal mine for method of working, ultimate pit slope, dump slope and monitoring of dump stability. Adequate provisions have also been made under Regulation 108 of CMR 2017, for spoil banks & dumps for the stability. In addition to this, guidelines for scientific study and systematic monitoring of slopes in opencast coal mines have been issued vide DGMS (Tech) Circular No. 03 & 02 of 2020 respectively. Provisions have been made in the Regulation 104 of the CMR 2017 regarding Safety Management Plan based on the risk assessment  in coal mines which also includes proper  control measures and SOPs to be followed for monitoring of dump stability.

Moreover, the overburden dumps are inspected by DGMS during inspection of the mines for overburden dump geometry, its location and stability. Suitable action is taken, in case of any violation.

*****