A high-level panel has deferred green clearance to Coal India's 10 MTPA washery in Odisha and sought more information from the company, a move that may hit government's plan to provide quality fuel.
The state-owned company has plans to set up 15 washeries by next year.
"The proposal was for grant of environment clearance to Jagannath washery of 10 MTPA in village Hensmul, district Talcher, Odisha of Mahanadi Coalfields, a Coal India arm. The proposal was deferred by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for want of inputs/clarification," a source said.
The environment ministry panel noted that the proposed washery with its technology firmed up, was yet to get the approval of board of the project proponent.
"The project proponent presented wind rose for one quarter only. Whereas, the meteorological data should have been for a minimum period of one year to have a consistent and reasonable picture of wind directions," the source said.
The project proponent is also required to give data on emission factor for various sources of fugitive emissions, which would be generated from the washery.
Based on these emission factors, predicted air quality values should be provided both for controlled and uncontrolled emissions, the source said.
"The project proponent mentioned that...Mitigative measures would involve construction of a separate internal road by-passing the habitated areas. This is in addition to providing conveyor system for coal transportation and silo loading at the sidings, which is under implementation. Works on these measures were asked to be expedited," the source said.
The project proponent during presentation informed that water storage bodies were on the rise side of the mine excavated area in Ananta OCP (Open Cast Project). The project proponent was advised to examine this as it may endanger the dip side workings, the source said.
Coal washing is a process of separation mainly based on difference in specific gravity of coal and associated impurities like shale, sand and stones to get relatively pure marketable coal without changing its physical properties.
