Lok Sabha Question No. 4158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Treatment of Mine Water
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Yogender Chandolia, Dr. Rajesh Mishra, Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4158 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## Treatment of Mine Water

## 4158.   Shri Dineshbhai Makwana:

Dr. Rajesh Mishra:

Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary:

Shri Yogender Chandolia:

Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato:

Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures being taken to ensure the sustainable utilization of mine water for irrigation without depleting ground water resources;
- (b) the long-term plans for expanding the use of treated mine water for drinking purposes in other States;
- (c) the details of investment made so far in infrastructure for mine water treatment across Coal and Lignite PSUs;
- (d) the details and the number of villages expected to get benefit from the Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU)  signed  between  Western  Coalfields  Limited  and  Maharashtra  State Power Generation Corporation Limited; and
- (e) the details of NCL's plan for water management along with the extent of works completed so far?

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

(a) and (b) Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), are implementing various measures to ensure the sustainable utilization of mine water for irrigation use.  Excess  mine  water  is  gainfully  utilized  for  industrial,  and  community  use,  including irrigation  and domestic use, thereby reducing the need for groundwater extraction for such purposes. Regular monitoring and quality checks are conducted by accredited laboratories to ensure that the water meets the required standards for irrigation and domestic use. Rainwater

harvesting  and  groundwater  recharge  measures  are implemented  alongside  mine  water utilization to maintain the groundwater balance. During FY 2024-25 (up to February 2025), Coal and Lignite PSUs have supplied approximately 3963 Lakh Kilo Liters (LKL) of treated mine water for domestic and irrigation use to local communities in and around coal and lignite mining areas in the respective states.

(c) Investment on infrastructure for mine water treatment has been made by Coal and Lignite PSUs on a regular basis in coal and lignite mining areas. Mine water treatment infrastructure forms an integral part of mining operations as per the statutory provisions mentioned in the Environment Clearance, Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate of the coal and lignite mining projects and includes such as effluent treatment plants for treating industrial discharge, water filter plants to ensure treated mine water meets quality standards, sedimentation tanks for filtration and settling of suspended particles, maintenance and upgradation of existing water treatment infrastructure to enhance efficiency and capacity, etc.

(d) An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been executed between Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Limited (MAHAGENCO)  for  supplying  treated  mine  water  from  Bhanegaon  Open  Cast  Mine  to Kapakheda Thermal Power Station. Due to this, water from the irrigation department, which was previously catering to the water requirements of Thermal Power Station, is now available for domestic and irrigation purposes.

(e) Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) has implemented a comprehensive water management plan across its mines to ensure efficient utilization and conservation of water resources. Mine seepage within the quarry is collected in dedicated mine sumps and pumped to the surface, where  it  undergoes  treatment  at  Effluent  Treatment  Plants  (ETPs).  The  treated  water  is effectively utilized within the mine premises for industrial purposes such as dust suppression on haul roads and Coal Handling Plants (CHPs), firefighting, green belt development, washing of Heavy Earth Moving Equipment (HEMMs), and wheel washing. To manage stormwater, garland drains and catch drains have been constructed in respective mines to facilitate water collection, while sedimentation ponds are used to remove suspended particles. Additionally, retaining walls and Gabion walls have been provided at the toe of overburden dumps to arrest silt and prevent erosion. As part of its commitment to sustainable water management, NCL has constructed a total of 12 Effluent Treatment Plants across its mines to ensure effective mine water treatment and utilization.

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