Parliament Question: Impact of Coal Mining Expansion

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1724 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025 Impact of Coal Mining Expansion 1724: Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the recent expansion of coal mining in Angul district of Odisha where coal production has risen from 96.73 MT in 2021-22 to 115.06 MT in 2023-24, on land diversion patterns including the 1,077 hectare diverted for mining between 2020 and 2023 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number and present operational status of coal blocks in Angul including the projected timelines for new projects such as Subhadra and Balabhadra and the mitigation conditions imposed during approval;

(c) whether any cumulative impact assessment has been undertaken for the 66 coal blocks in Angul district to evaluate pressures created by compact, high-density mining clusters; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure that mining plans, transportation routes and ancillary infrastructure do not intensify human-wildlife interface risks in areas adjoining active coalfields? ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) Yes, the Government has assessed the impact of the recent increase in coal production in Angul district rising from 96.73 MT in 2021-22 to 116.089 MT in 2023-24 in the following projects through the statutory processes of Environmental Clearance (EC) and EIA-EMP appraisal undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Sl. Name of the Project & Available Production details (in MT) No Capacity EC capacity 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 in MT from 2021-22 till 2023-24 1 Ananta OC Expn. 20 13.58 17.09 19.999 2 Jagannath OC Expn. 7.5 7.03 7.50 7.50 3 Bhubaneswari OCP Expn. 28Mty in 28.00 30.00 24.235 21-22 and 30 Mty from 2022-23-2- 4 Bharatpur OC Expn. 20 9.25 9.252 11.12 6 Balram OCP 8 6.53 7.739 7.74 7 Hingula-II OCP 15 7.74 12.38 13.059 8 Lingaraj OC Expn. 20 14.46 16.51 17.539 9 Kaniha OCP 14 10.10 12.151 11.811 10 Talcher UG 0.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 11 Nandira UG 0.33 0.06 0.06 0.056 12 Utkal D&E 4.0 0.00 0.00 2.00 13 Utkal C 3.37 0.00 0.00 1.03 Total 142.47 96.75 113.99 116.089 From the above table, all the mines have increased production within their EC permissible limits only.

(b) The details of coal blocks in Angul District are as follows : i. There are 25 blocks under the command area of Mahanadi Coalfield Limited in Angul District. Out of this, 19 coal blocks are projectized, status of which is attached in Annexure-

1. ii. In addition, 19 coal blocks have been allocated by the Nominated Authority (Ministry of Coal) in Angul district of Odisha. Out of these, four blocks have commenced production as on date. Status is attached in Annexure-2.

The expected timelines for new projects of MCL are as under:

I. Subhadra OCP: FY 2027-28 II. Balabhadra OCP: FY 2028-29 The mitigation measures of Subhadra & Balbhadra opencast greenfield mines in Angul are as

under in tabular form:

Project EC EC Date Status Capacity

(MTY) Few Specific conditions imposed in EC are as follows. a. Greenbelt development on approximately 426.15 hectares (38% of lease area) with a survival rate of 70%. b. Dust suppression measures such as fog cannons, mist sprinklers, and wind barriers at coal stockyards.

Subhadra c. Installation of Continuous Ambient Air Quality 25 06.03.2024 OC Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) and real-time data display. d. Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for zero discharge of untreated water.

e. Occupational health safeguards, including periodic medical examinations and safety equipment.-3- f. Reclamation plan covering 965.45 hectares, including agricultural use, plantation, and water harvesting structures.

g. CSR and Public Hearing commitments for healthcare, education, water supply, and infrastructure development in nearby villages.

Other conditions as prescribed in EC, FC, CTE, CTO, CGWA NOC, HWA letters are available in MCL website:

https://www.mahanadicoal.in/Environment/estatuatorycp.php Environmental Clearance application process of Balbhadra Balbhadra OC Project from MoEF&CC is underway. The EC would have Yet to obtain details of the mitigation conditions once it is issued.

(c) & (d): Though no such broader study of cumulative impact assessment has been undertaken for the 66 coal blocks in Angul district to evaluate pressures created by the compact, high-density mining clusters, the cumulative impact assessment for Bhubaneswari, Jagannath, Balram & Subhadra opencast mines have been undertaken, which are nearer to most of the mines operating in Talcher Coalfield of Angul district.

All the coal mine projects are operated after obtaining Forest Diversion as per Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980. Further the following steps are taken to address the human wildlife interface risks in areas adjoining active coalfields.

1. In compliance to the conditions, Site Specific Wildlife Management Plan is approved by PCCF (WL) & CWLW, Odisha and implemented by the State Forest Deptt. at project cost which is deposited in CAMPA.

2. Additionally, cost for Regional Wildlife Management Plan is deposited in CAMPA for further implementation.

3. Provisioning animal passage plan wherever required.

4. Undertaking awareness campaigns in coordination with VSS committees, local village committees.

In addition to the above, other measures such as compensatory afforestation, Soil Moisture Conservation etc. for flourishing the wildlife habitat are undertaken in coordination with State Forest Deptt. as compliance measures.

The project proponent ensures reduced traffic intensity of coal trucks by implementation of Conveyor & Silo arrangement thereby maximizing rail despatch of coal. Besides, thick green belts, dust suppression measures like fog canon, road sweeper, mobile sprinklers are in place to protect from the risks on human and wildlife.

Transportation routes, specifically coal corridors, have been established that do not pass through nearby habitations, and speed restrictions are enforced in sensitive zones.-4- Annexure-I Projectised/ Sl.

Name of Block Non- Remarks/Timelines No.

Projectised 1 Ananta & Dip Extn. Projectized Projectised for Ananta OCP 2 Bhubaneswari & Dip Projectized Projectised for Bhubaneswari OCP Extn.

3 Lingaraj Projectized Projectised for Lingaraj OCP 4 Balabhadra Projectized Projectised for Balabhadra OCP, Mine is yet to be operational.

5 Jagannath Projectized Projectised for Jagannath OCP.

6 Padma Projectized Projectised for Jagannath OCP and Bharatpur OCP 7 Bharatpur Comb. Projectized Projectised for Bharatpur OCP 8 Kalinga East Projectized Projectidsed for Bharatpur OCP & Balaram OCP 9 Kalinga West Projectized Projectised for Balaram OCP 10 (Baitarani East) Non- Part projectized for Chhendipada OCP, and the Projectized mine has been closed due to exhaustion of reserve.

PR for the non projectized part under finalisation.

Timeline for operation- 2031-32 11 Deulbera Projectized Projectised for Deulbera UG mine. Mine has been closed due to safety reason.

12 Gopalprasad East & Projectized Projectised for Hingula OCP Eastern part of Gopalprasad West 13 Handidua Projectized Projectised for Handidhua UG mine. Mine has been closed due to safety reason.

14 Kaniha-Neelachal Projectized Projectised for Kaniha OCP 15 Nandira Projectized Projectised for Nandira OCP 16 Nataraj Projectized The block was projectized for Natraj UG mine, However, the mine has neen shelved out due to viability of the project.

17 South Balanda Projectized Projectised for South Balanda OCP. Reserve

(Exhausted) exhausted.

18 Talcher Projectized Projectised for Talcher UG mine.

19 Western part of Projectized Projectised for Subhadra OCP, the mine is yet to be Gopalprasad West operationalised.

20 Utkal A Projectized Timeline- 2027-28 21 Konark-Subhadra West Not Projectized GR prepared. Timeline is yet to be finalised.

Comb.

22 Balabhadra North Extn. Not Projectized PR for Balabhadra (N&W) Extension OCP under 23 Balabhadra West Extn. Not Projectized finalisation. Timeline-2031-32 24 Rabipur Not Projectized Under Exploration. Timeline is yet to be finalised.

25 Tribira Not Projectized Under Exploration. Timeline is yet to be finalised.

25 blocks-5- Annexure-II SN. Name of the coal Status of the coal block Expected year of block Operationalisation 1 Naini Producing Producing 2&3 Utkal D & E Producing Producing 4 Utkal C Producing Producing 5 Baitarni West In process of obtaining statutory FY27 approvals/clearances 6 Mandakini In process of obtaining statutory FY27 approvals/clearances 7 Radhikapur (West) In process of obtaining statutory FY28 approvals/clearances 8 Utkal A MOP granted, however production is FY26 yet to start 9 Bankhui GR preparation stage FY29 10&11 Utkal B1 & B2 Utkal B1: MOP granted, however FY28 production is yet to start Utkal B2: In process of obtaining statutory approvals/clearances 12 Alaknanda In process of obtaining statutory FY28 approvals/clearances 13 Chendipada (Revised) GR preparation stage FY29 14 Sakhigopal-B Kankili GR preparation stage FY29 15 Kudanali Lubri GR preparation stage FY30 16 Machhakata (Revised) In process of obtaining statutory FY29 approvals/clearances 17 Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi GR preparation stage FY30 18 New Patrapara South GR preparation stage FY30 19 Saradhapur Jalatap East GR preparation stage FY31 *******