A green panel has recommended environment clearance (EC) to state-owned steel major SAIL for construction of a pit head coking coal washery in its Tasra Coal Block in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
An Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry had discussed the SAIL's proposal at earlier meetings and had sought clarifications. The proposal was taken up again recently.
"The EAC, after detailed deliberations, found the clarifications to the earlier observations as satisfactory, and recommended the proposal for grant of EC to the SAIL's proposed Pit Head Coking Coal Washery of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in Jharia Coalfields," as per the minutes of the January 30-31 EAC meeting.
It has suggested the ministry to give final green nod subject to compliance of all generic conditions applicable for washery as well as fulfilment of other conditions.
Among conditions specified, the EAC has said that the company should install a technology for washery that conforms to 'Zero Liquid Discharge' and provide a thick green belt of 30-45 metre width around the washery to mitigate/check the dust pollution.
The company should ensure that transportation of raw coal, cleaning of coal, middling and rejects to be done by rail with wagon loading through silo.
That apart, disposal of washery rejects should be in accordance with the extant policy and guidelines, and environment friendly.
As per the proposal, SAIL will source 3.5 MTPA raw coal from its Tasra open cast project. Land requirement for the project would be 20 hectare, of which 18 hectare for the washery and 2 hectare for the railway siding.
The company has said it would complete the construction and commissioning of Tasra washery including trial operation and Performance Guarantee Tests (PGT) in 18 months.
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