Lok Sabha Question No. 2887 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-06
Subject: Pollution in Rivers
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

#### 1 MINISTRY OF COAL

###### 1 LOK SABHA

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2887**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2015**

**Pollution in Rivers**

**2887.	SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:**

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the subsidiary companies of the Coal India Limited (CIL) including Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) are polluting the rivers in the country;

(b)	if so, the details thereof, company-wise;

(c)	whether the Government has conducted any study/assessment in this regard;

(d)	if so, the details thereof; and

(e)	the steps taken by CIL to check the pollution of rivers?

### 1 ANSWER

**MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY  (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)**

**(a) & (b):** Subsidiary companies of Coal India Limited (CIL) including Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) are not polluting the river water. The parameters of mine water discharged are within the prescribed limits.

**(c) & (d):** Yes, Sir. The study/assessment has been included in the Environmental Impact Assessment / Environmental Management Plan (EIA/EMP) which has been prepared as per the prescribed ToR (Terms of Reference) of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The EIA/EMP report has been prepared for all the mines and washeries of CIL. The EIA/EMP report is approved by MoEFCC and includes the Pollution control and mitigation measures to be taken by the mines and washeries. Respective State Pollution Control Boards monitor the situation regularly.

**(e):** Steps taken to check pollution of river water are as under.

- A Protocol of State Pollution Control Board for washeries and mines “the eradication of pollution of Rivers” is being implemented.

- Time bound disposal of all tailings & rejects.
- All the washeries have been made Zero discharge; the same water is recycled again and again in the main process of the Washery.
- All the washeries are maintaining free board space in the slurry ponds and within its premises to check over spillage of slurry.

- Effluents from workshops are passed through Oil & Grease Traps and recycled / reused for dust suppression and for Industrial washing purposes.
- In major Mines, Domestic effluents are being treated in Domestic Effluent Treatment Plants and in other mines in septic tanks.
- All the mines are working in the principle of zero discharge. However during heavy monsoon for the safety of man & machineries some water is being discharged after due treatment.
- Mine water is discharged after proper settling in the mine sump and sedimentation pond to arrest sediments. Treated mine waters are used for plantation, coal mine fire-fighting, sprinkling for dust control, community use etc.
- Garland drains are provided around Mine Pits / Over Burden dumps to arrest sediments and prevent siltation of natural water courses.
- Regular monitoring of water qualities including the natural water courses / Rivers are being done as per the laws and monitoring results found to be within the prescribed limits of standards , are submitted to the pollution control board periodically.
- Other steps as indicated time to time by regulatory bodies are taken.

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