Lok Sabha Question No. 2097 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-10
Subject: Pumping out Water from Mines of NCL
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: ANBUMANI RAMADOSS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2097 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2016

## Pumping out Water from Mines of NCL

## 2097. DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether flash flood had caused widespread damage in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu in the month of December, 2015;
- (b) if so, whether the major cause for the floods and inundation of thousands of acres of  land  was  the  huge  quantity  of water pumped from the mines of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited without prior warning and safety measures;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any enquiry has been conducted by the Union Government in this regard; and
- (e)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to  check recurrence of such incidents in future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTEROF STATE (IC) IN THE MINISTERYOFCOAL, POWER AND NEW&RENEWABLE ENERGY

## (SHRIPIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) There  were  flash  flood  in  the  Cuddalore  District  of  Tamilnadu  in  the  month  of November & December, 2015.Neyveli received persistent rainfall for 23 days during November-December, 2015. There was an  unprecedented rainfall of around 435 mm in 8 hours on 9 th November 2015 which is  the highest ever rainfall (in a day) since inception of NLC. During the month of November 2015 and during December 2015, rain fall of 943 mm and 424 mm respectively were recorded in Neyveli. Almost entire mining operation was paralyzed and there was a huge setback in power generation.
- (b) and(c): No,  Neyveli  Lignite  Corporation Ltd., had  restrained its  groundwater pumping and storm water pumping even though the mines were inundated during this period.  The  same  was  also  informed  to  the  concerned  authorities.    The  details  are given below:

'Due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall of this quantum during November/ December  2015,  one  of  its  severestkind  in  last  100  years  in  the  region,  the  OB systems and the lignite bench system in all the mines and generation of power came to standstill . Many  feeders  at  Mines  sub-station  tripped  due  to  the  gusty  winds  and waves,  water  entered  the  Storm  Water  Control  (SWC)  pontoons  and  a  number  of pontoons  commissioned  in  sumps  got  sub-merged.    Due  to  tripping  of  feeders  and submerging  of  pontoons,  the  SWC  pumping  and  Ground  Water  Control  (GWC) pumping were seriously affected immediately after rains. District Administration did not allow pumping out the water from the flooded mines (with the apprehension of over flooding of surrounding villages) . ' As such the major cause for the floods and inundation of thousands of acres of land  was  the  huge  quantity  of  rain  water  during  the  said  period  in  the  Cuddalore District. (d)&(e): No Madam. However, Neyveli lignite Corporation Limited, on its part has de-silted theWalajalake and the water holding capacity was enhanced by about 22.75 lakh cubic meter  at  an  estimated  cost  of  about  Rs  14.00  Crore,  under  its  Corporate  social responsibility activity. Further,  NLC  plans  to  carryout  de-silting  of  other  water  bodies  of  the neighborhood as identified by the respective State Govt. authorities for enhancing the

holding capacity to avoid inundation of surrounding area.

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