**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to questions regarding the impact of coal mining and transportation activities by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in the Tandwa Block of Chatra district, Jharkhand. The response, dated December 17, 2025, outlines measures taken to address dust pollution, road deterioration, traffic congestion, safety, and community support. These actions have stemmed from initiatives launched in Feb 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Problem Acknowledgment:**
* Increased coal transportation has led to dust pollution, road stress, and traffic congestion in certain areas.
* **Traffic Reduction and Enhanced Safety:**
* Engineering surveys are underway for a dedicated rail line to reduce road traffic.
* First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects using CHP/SILO loading are planned and under construction for coal evacuation.
* The Integrated Coal Logistics Plan and Policy was launched on February 29, 2024, to optimize coal evacuation and reduce road traffic.
* **Pollution Control Measures:**
* CCL implements dust suppression measures, including water tankers and regulated coal dispatch.
* Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are conducted before mining operations.
* Dust suppression measures like mobile and fixed water sprinklers, fog canons, and extensive plantation programs have been implemented.
* Continuous air quality monitoring stations are installed.
* Mist sprinklers, water sprinkler tankers, truck mounted fog canons, trolley mounted fog canons and wind breaking screens have been provided.
* Around 1000 ha plantation has been done. Miyawaki plantation has been undertaken in Amrapali.
* **Road Network Upgradation:**
* CCL is upgrading and reconstructing existing road networks, including strengthening, widening, curve and gradient improvements, and drain construction.
* **Community Support:**
* CCL provides basic civic amenities, safety infrastructure, and rehabilitation support to affected villages through corporate social responsibility programs.
* These include installation of solar deep borewells, construction of toilets and boundary walls in schools, installation of water filters in schools, health camps, nutritional support, and assistive devices.
* Periodic community engagement in safety awareness programs are conducted.
* Rehabilitation support is provided as per existing legal frameworks and policies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Key Stakeholders:**
Affected Local Population in Chatra District
**Impact:**
* Exposure to dust pollution.
* Disruptions due to traffic congestion and road deterioration.
* Potential safety risks due to increased heavy vehicle traffic.
* Benefit from improved civic amenities, safety infrastructure, and rehabilitation support through corporate social responsibility programs.
* Benefit from periodic community engagement in safety awareness programs
**Action Required:**
* Participate in community engagement programs to raise awareness about risks and safety measures.
* Utilize available civic amenities and infrastructure provided by CCL.
* Stay informed about the progress of FMC projects and rail line construction.
**Key Stakeholders:**
Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
**Impact:**
* Responsibility to implement and maintain pollution control measures.
* Responsibility to upgrade and reconstruct road networks.
* Required to provide basic civic amenities, safety infrastructure, and rehabilitation support.
* Required to conduct periodic community engagement in safety awareness programs.
* Potential cost implications for environmental management, infrastructure development, and community support.
**Action Required:**
* Implement and maintain dust suppression measures.
* Continue upgrading and reconstructing road networks.
* Continue providing basic civic amenities, safety infrastructure, and rehabilitation support.
* Continue conducting periodic community engagement in safety awareness programs.
* Prioritize FMC projects and rail line construction.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Coalfields Limited (CCL): A coal mining company involved in large-scale coal mining and related activities in the Tandwa Block of Chatra district.
Tandwa Block of Chatra district of Jharkhand: The specific geographical area where coal mining and transportation activities are causing environmental and infrastructure issues.
Integrated Coal Logistics Plan and Policy: Policy launched by the Ministry of Coal to optimize coal evacuation and reduce road traffic by implementing first mile connectivity (FMC) projects and rail connectivity works.
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013: Law governing the rehabilitation support for project affected persons.
Ministry of Coal: The central government ministry responsible for the coal sector, including policies related to coal production, transportation, and environmental impact.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COAL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2978
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
Accident due to Coal Transportation
2978. Shri Kali Charan Singh:
Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that large-scale coal mining by Central Coalfields Limited
(CCL) and the power generation activities of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
have led to excessive coal transportation, severe dust pollution, rapid road deterioration and
frequent accidents due to congestion on a single transport corridor in Tandwa Block of Chatra
district of Jharkhand and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any technical assessment has been carried out regarding the need for a dedicated
coal transportation corridor to reduce traffic load and enhance safety and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to implement time-bound measures for pollution control,
including mechanised dust suppression, continuous air-quality monitoring and green-belt
development along mining and transport routes and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any proposal is under consideration of the Government for scientific upgradation
and reconstruction of the existing road network to withstand heavy-vehicle movement and if
so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide basic civic amenities, safety infrastructure
and rehabilitation support to the affected local population and if so, the timelines for such
measures?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CO AL AND MINES
(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)
(a) & (b) Yes, increased coal transportation in the Tandwa Block of Chatra district on account
of mining activities of Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and despatch of coal to NTPC power
generation house, have resulted in higher movement of heavy vehicles on the existing transport
corridor. This has led, in certain stretches, to dust generation, road stress and congestion. CCL
has taken several measures, including regulated coal despatch scheduling, deployment of water
tankers for dust suppression, strengthening and widening of critical stretches of the road and
enhanced traffic management to reduce risks.
In order to reduce the traffic load/ minimise road transportation in the area, engineering survey/
study was carried out for preparing a detailed project report for construction of a dedicated rail
line for the Magadh & Amrapali railway siding in Tandwa Block of Chatra District. First mile
connectivity (FMC) projects have been planned for evacuation of coal by CHP/SILO loading
from Magadh OCP (open cast project) & Amrapali OCP. Construction of FMC projects and
rail connectivity projects are underway.-2-
Ministry of Coal had launched the Integrated Coal Logistics Plan and Policy on 29th February
2024, wherein project-wise origin-destination (OD) mapping along with bottlenecks for coal
evacuation from mines was assessed. Based on this, implementation of FMC (first mile
connectivity) projects and rail connectivity works have been planned and executed to reduce
road traffic movement and enhance safety.
(c) Prior to start of coal mining operation, coal companies carry out detailed Environmental
Impact Assessment and, accordingly, Environment Management Plan is prepared and approved
by the regulatory authority (MoEF&C/ SEIAA) which prescribes implementation of dust
suppression measures including mobile and fixed water sprinklers, fog canons, extensive
plantation program in and around mining areas including transportation routes. In order to
ensure real time air quality monitoring, mining areas are equipped with continuous ambient air
quality monitoring stations.
The following measures are being implemented in CCL projects located in Chatra district:
i) Mist sprinklers, water sprinkler tankers, truck mounted fog canons, trolley mounted fog
canons and wind breaking screens have been provided for dust suppression.
ii) Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) and PM 10 anlysers are
installed which transmit real time data to Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board.
iii) About 1000 ha plantation has been done. Miyawaki plantation has been undertaken in
Amrapali.
(d) Yes, CCL has taken steps for scientific up-gradation and reconstruction of existing road
networks used for coal transportation. These include strengthening of roads, widening at
critical stretches, improvement of curves and gradients, and construction of drains and
embankments.
(e) In affected villages in Chatra district, under corporate social responsibility programmes,
CCL has undertaken installation of solar deep borewells in schools/ villages, construction of
toilets and boundary walls in schools and installation of water filters in schools. Health camps,
nutritional support to women/ adolescents/ TB patients and assistive devices to divyangs have
also been provided.
Periodic community engagement in safety awareness programmes are conducted in the villages
adjoining the mines to eliminate accident risks associated with coal transportation.
Rehabilitation support to project affected persons is provided as per Right to Fair
Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act,
2013; R&R Policy 2012 of Coal India Limited; and modification to R&R Policy approved by
Board of CCL.
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