IMMA-National Summit, 15-16 Dec. 2017 Nagpur; Muthreja, Raina, Bagde, Manekar (Eds.

Environment friendly progressive mine closure of a coal mine of Jharia region

Ratnesh Trivedi*1, M. Ahamad *2 A. K. Raina*3
*1 Principal Scientist, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Nagpur Research
Centre.

*2, Scientist, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad.

*3 Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Nagpur
Research Centre.

Abstract

Mines and Minerals, Development and Regulation Act, 2015 provide for two types of mine
closure plan namely a progressive mine closure plan; and a final mine closure plan. All the
mining activities from prospecting to exploitation contribute the problem of environmental
pollution directly or indirectly. The aim of closure planning is to return the mine site in an
ecological sustainable and suitable state for future land use because mining is a time bound use
of a piece of land. As progressive mine closure is a continuous series of activities, it is obvious
that the proposals of scientific mining have had included most of the activities to be included in
the progressive mine closure plan. Premature and unplanned mine closures can result adverse
impacts to the environment and the community, and therefore, must be managed appropriately.
This paper analyses the progressive mine closure planning as a part of mine plan even before
opening up of the deposit. The study focuses on the various aspects of progressive mine closure
plan of an underground coal mine of Jharia coalfields, Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The mine will be
closed after depletion of the reserve keeping in view the present market conditions and best
mining practices will ensure long term sustainability of the underground coal mining in India.

1.0 Introduction

The goal of progressive closure planning is to plan the mine workings in such a way that ensures
return the mine site in an ecological sustainable and suitable state for future land use. The
excitement and fanfare that surrounds the opening of a new mine is never present when it finally
closes. Rapid growth of industrializations and expansion of population leads to exploitation of

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natural resources to the greater extent, which has substantially reduced the natural capacity of
self sustainability of the environment. The process of development should be sustainable, so that
environmental quality is maintained within safe limits. This can be achieved by integrating
industrial development with a systematically designed progressive mine closure plan. The
reasons why mines close are diverse and include economic, geological, geotechnical, regulatory,
community and other pressures.

Most of the major mining activities contribute to the emission of air pollutants leading to the
problem of air pollution directly or indirectly, right from exploration to exploitation including
coal washing (Ahmad et al., 2014; Das, 2014; Chaturvedi and Patra, 2016). Sources of air
pollution in the mining areas are generally drilling, blasting, loading, transporting, unloading
stock yard, coal handling plant, workshop, etc. (Trivedi et al., 2009,2010). The societal importance
of an underground coal mining can not be underestimated especially from employment point of view. In
India, mineral deposits are located in remote and tribal areas of the country, where the primary means of
livelihood is agriculture and forest produce. Mine closure encompasses rehabilitation process as an
ongoing program designed to restore physical, chemical and biological quality disturbed by the mining to
a level acceptable to all concerned. It aims at leaving the area in such a way that rehabilitation does not
become a burden to the society after mining operation is over. It also aims to create as self-sustained
ecosystem. It is therefore necessary for the mine management to consider that mine closure and
rehabilitation of community that must be essential parts of the overall project plan. (Dhar, 2005). The
chief goal of closure planning is to return the mine site in an ecological sustainable and suitable state for
future land use (Kumar et al 2003). Keeping the essential considerations of the mine closure, it should be
the goal of mining companies to integrate the closure plan with the mining plan in a cohesive manner
(Jayanthu and Gupta, 2005). The following major objectives of a mine closure plan.

• To safeguard health and safety of the public

• Land after closure shall not be affected and shall ensure sustainability in long term.
• Environmental resources in the area shall not be degraded in any form.
• Minimize adverse socio-economic impacts.
• Develop potential for communities’ future prospect in respect of economic and social
life.
The factors that must be considered with mine rehabilitation are physical and chemical stability
of mine waste dumps and open-pits, maintenance of water quality, safe disposal of infrastructure,
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development of sustainable ecosystems, meeting community expectations (Taylor, 2004). Mine

closure operation is a continuous series of activities starting from day one of the initiation of
mining project therefore mine closure plan is an additional chapter in the present Mine Plan and
will be reviewed every five years in the Scheme of Mining. (GSR 329 (E), 2003, GSR 330 (E),
2003) Final mine closure plan as per statute, shall be considered to have its approval at least nine
months before the date of proposed closure of mine. This period of nine months is reckoned as
preparatory period for final mine closure operations. Fourie and Brent (2006) have proposed a
project-based Mine Closure Model (MCM) for sustainable asset life cycle management. Mine
Closure Model (MCM) is based on project management principles. Ghosh et. al, 2003 have
highlighted rehabilitation and revegetation strategy for mine closure. Dutta et. al. (2003) have
focused on challenges for post mine closure environment management in Kakum coal field,
Assam. Sengupta and Biswas (2003) have underlined the importance of Mine closure planning in
changing environmental arena. Hancock(2004) used landscape evolution models in mining
rehabilitation design. Rathke and Bröring(2005) have studied the rehabilitation and colonization
of post-mining landscapes and found that the relative abundance of all species is significantly
higher in undisturbed sites as compared to disturbed mining sites. Rao and Pathak (2005) have
studied the Socio-economic impacts of mine closure in Raniganj Coalfields using remote sensing
and satellite imagery.

2. Field Settings at underground coal mine of Jharia region

The Colliery block forms a part of Survey of India Topo Sheet No.73 I/5 (R.F.1: 50,000) and
falls between the Latitudes Latitude: 230 46‟ 00”N to 230 48‟ 00”N and Longitude: 860 19‟ 00”
E to 860 21‟ 00” E. Dhanbad railway station of East Central Railways is the nearest major
railway station, situated at a distance of 16 km from Bhelatand Colliery. The nearest major town
is Katrasgarh, located at a distance of 5 km from the colliery. National Highway 32. General
slope of the ground is from NW to SE with gently undulating profile. maximum elevation 195.87
m above mean sea level (MSL) is observed on the north-west side and minimum elevation
174.30 m is observed on the south-east side of the mine.

The underground coal mine under the study lies in the Jharia coal fields, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
The captive coal mine supplies the coal to the steel plant to increase the production. The Steel

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Plant at Jamshedpur is undergoing expansion of its production thereby require more steel grade
coal. Therefore, the underground coalmine has been planned for its capacity enhancement. The
colliery was planned to be expanded from existing 0.38 MT per annum to 0.41 MT per annum
and the coal washery from existing 0.96 MT per annum to 1.5 MT per annum.

Coal is the major constituent for production of Steel.The mine produces Coking coal which is
washed in washery to produce clean coal, middling, reject and tailing. Clean coal (steel grade
coal) is being transported to Jamshedpur for their utilization in existing integrated steel plant.
Some of the rejects generated from the washery is being used at our captive 10 MW Fluidized
Bed Combustion power plant at Jamadoba. The remaining rejects and middling are sold to other
power generation plants and the remaining byproduct tailing is disposed off tobrick kiln
manufacturer

Regional Geology
The Jharia coalfield in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand is the most important and the most
productive of the Indian coalfields and is situated in the heart of the Damodar valley, mainly
along the north of the river. The chief center is Jharia in the eastern part of the field, after which
the coalfield is named. Located between 23o 46‟ 25” to 23o 42‟ 42.21” North Latitude and 86o
19‟ 30” to 86o 24‟ 18.89” East Longitude on the north of the Damodar River in Dhanbad district
in the state of Jharkhand, the sickle shaped Jharia Coalfield (JCF), with its longer axis running
northwest - southeast and with an area of about 450 km2, is the only source of prime coking coal
in India. The coal basin extends for about 38 km in an east-west direction and a maximum of 18
km in north-south direction. Dhanbad city is located in its northeastern margin. The coalfield is
named after the Jharia Town, which is situated in the eastern part of JCF.
Geologically, it comprises (from bottom to top) of Archaean Metamorphics separated
byunconformity from Talchirs, which is overlain by coal bearing Barakars, Barren Measures
(devoid of coal) and Raniganj Formations (coal bearing). Barakar Formation with 18 persistent
seams and Raniganj Formation with 12 persistent seams are the only coal bearing formations
having very good quality coking (prime coking) coals of India. Structurally, it has witnessed a
series of step faulting and severe folding at places.
Local Geology

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The general strike of the seam is WNW-ESE, dipping 8°-12° except in the western part of the
lease hold where the strike of the bed changes to almost N-S due to the effect of the major fault
coming from the Malkera due South with a throw of about 240m. Mining lease of Bhelatand
Colliery lies between 23o 46‟ to 23o 48‟ North Latitude and 86o 19‟ to 86o 21‟ East Longitude.

Description of Mining Method

Bord & Pillar method with hydraulic sand stowing is being practiced formining of all the seams
since its inception. It is also proposed to extend the same method for mining for all workable
seams.However, new technologies for partial extraction of developed coal seam viz. splitting and
stooking, Narrow panel mining method, Wide Stall method, Chess board method of pillar
extraction etc. which are being tried elsewhere and are showing signs of success may be adopted
to avoid backfilling of voids while protecting the surface/subsurface features. Mismatch between
rate of backfilling and rate of creation of voids creates serious bottleneck for high productive
mechanization.

Loading is mechanized and Side Dump Loaders are deployed for loading in all the seams except
XVI seam, where manual loading is being done. Coal getting is still manual with conventional
drilling and blasting. Support also mechanized and Pneumatic Roof Bolter is used for roof
bolting. Transport totally mechanized and Skat-60 chain and Belt Conveyors are used for
transport of coal. Loading of coal near the face is done by Side Discharge Loaders (SDLs) and
Load Haul Dumps (LHDs) onto chain conveyors which discharge the coal onto out-bye belt
conveyors for onward conveyance to surface through a series of belt conveyors, underground
bunkers, feeders and a central skip hoisting facility at 1-Pit shaft.

Transportation of Coal, Men & Material

Planning and installation of safe and sound facilities for transport & eviction of men and
materials, both within mine and to out-of-mine, plays vital role in mine design. Transportation in
mines may be subdivided into two parts i.e.
a. Coal transport – Transport of coal from underground to surface
b. Men and material transport – Transport of men and material from surface to underground and
back. Both the parts require two types of transport i.e. Vertical and Horizontal

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Ventilation for underground workings

Ventilation of underground workings is the most important aspect of mine design and planning
as it provides the working environment within the mine. Various parameters viz. ambient air
temperature, thermal gradient, gassiness of seam, proneness of coal seam to spontaneous heating,
presence of water bearing strata, generation of heat by men and machines etc. govern the quality
of environment in underground working areas. For deep and multi seam mines the problem
becomes very complicated. Directorate General of Mines Safety approves checks and guides
ventilation planning and implementation in the mine. To determine the adequacy of air quantity,
parameters like depth and gassiness of seam, production level per day,highest number of persons
in any one shift, number of panels/areas to be ventilated,extent of mechanization, efficiency of
the ventilation coursing etc. are considered.

3.0 Impact of underground coal mining on the environment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a useful predictive exercise required for assessing
the environmental capability of the underground coal mine under consideration. Identification of
major impact of the environment forms the guideline to prepare the necessary Environmental
Management Plan (EMP).Directives are identified in regard to the manner of handling the impact
in terms of environmental protection, conservation and preservation. On the basis of directives,
the different components of the are evolved and implemented. The general objectives of the EIA
rt are to provide
• Baseline information about the environmental, social, and economic conditions in the
coal mine region;
• information on potential impacts of the expansion of production of coal mine from
underground mining methods and the characteristic of the impacts, magnitude,
distribution, who will be the affected group, and their duration;
• information on potential mitigation measures to minimize the impact including
mitigation costs;
• to assess the best alternative project at most benefits and least costs in terms of
financial, social, and environment.
• formulating environmental management plan

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However, the underground coal mining technology cause lesser adverse impact on surrounding
environment as compared to that of opencast coal mining technology, but still, there are adverse
impact on environment due to transportation of coal, lowering of ground water tables, and many
others. Having once known about the execution of EMP, progressive mine closure plan plays an
important role in stage wise and time bound implementation of the best practices to be followed
for underground coal mines of the Jharia region.

Air Environment
Air pollution parameters like Respirable Particulate Matters (PM 2.5 and PM 10), Sulphur Dioxide
(SO2) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)) and heavy metals were identified as related to the project
activities for representing baseline status of ambient air quality within the study area. To assess
the base line ambient quality five air quality monitoring locations were selected two in core and
four in buffer zone area. Incremental value of each parameter due to project activities have been
assessed. It has been found that estimated value of each parameter are below the value prescribed
by MoEF vide schedule VII of Env (Protection) Rules 86. Concentration of PM2.5and
PM10were well within the limit for coal mining area and washeries area as per the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards and Environmental Standard for coal mining area. Values of
SO2, NOX and Pb were very less and well within the permissible limit as per the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards. CO concentration in the study area was also within the
permissible limit.

Water Environment
To assess the present status of water quality in the study site, eight water sampling points have
been selected. These comprise of three surface water samples and five ground water samples
from tube wells/hand pumps and one effluent water sample. All the water samples have been
collected and analyzed as per standard method prescribed in APHA (1992) and compared with
inland surface water quality (IS:2296,1982) and CPCB Standard and drinking water quality
(IS:10500, 1993).

Noise Environment
Noise generating sources in the mine have been identified. They are mostly to be enclosed in the
plants buildings. Hence their impact on ambient environment will be minimal

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Impact on Flora & Fauna

Since the coal mining is done by underground mining methods, therefore, there will be no
adverse impact on forest cover or plantation cover. Thus the expansion and operation of mine
will not have any impact on flora and fauna.

4. Environment Friendly Progressive Mine Closure planning

Mine closure may be planned but most commonly, it is premature, occurring before ore reserves
are exhausted. The reasons why mines close are diverse and include economic, geological,
geotechnical, regulatory, community and other pressures. Premature and unplanned mine
closures results in significant adverse impacts on the environment and community. There seems
to be a misalignment between the mining industry and the various government authorities
pertaining to the issue of mine closure, rehabilitation of implementation of environment
management plan. The main reasons for this are unclear and unformulated approaches to mine
closures. This implies the successful implementation of Environmental Management Plan EMP
is also necessary for operational mines to ensure that the best result is achieved, and that the
communities and regulatory authorities are satisfied. This paper focuses on the various of a
progressive mine closure planning as a part of mine plan even before opening up of the deposit.
The best way of impact mitigation is to prevent the event occurring. Normally in coal mines no
major disaster affecting nearby residents is foreseen. However if the developmental activity
produce the adverse impact, action may be taken to mitigate the same. The mitigative measures
for minimization of adverse impacts along with stage wise land reclamation strategy, green belt
development / plantation programme and mine closure / decommissioning plan.

Waste Management

Since the coal is exploited by underground mining methods, therefore waste generation is quite
less and waste in the form of incombustible materials, debries of coal measure rocks can be
utilized.

Top Soil Management

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There is very meager top soil is available in mining area Topsoil spreading will provide better
conditions for plant growth. Due weight age should be given to restoration of specific root zone
properties that were disrupted during mining and reclamation process. Optimum minimum
thickness for spreading of topsoil cover will be restricted to 5 cm

Decommissioning of Infrastructure etc.

The machineries which have crossed their life are to be removed from site and sold as scarp.
Other machinery will be shifted to other mining sites of the company. Adequate infrastructure is
available at site and present. The infrastructure will be dismantled and removed from site at the
time of final closure of the mine.

Safety & Security

Rules and Regulations made under MMDR act, 2015 will be observed and required safety
measures taken. Circulars issued time to time regarding safety to the personnel and equipment of
the mine and to improve the working conditions of the mine, the mining plan envisages:

Care and Maintenance

After the completion of the mining, an organization consisting of persons of different disciplines
is proposed to be maintained to undertake and implement the closure activities. The organization
may be provided with a vehicle for discharging day-to-day duties. Maintenance cost of this
organization is proposed from the retain earnings of the project. A small team consisting of 2-3
technical people may be required to oversee the efficacy of the closure activities. This
monitoring may be conducted for 2 years after the mine closure activities.

Financial Assurance

The financial assurance should be furnished by leaseholder. The amount of financial assurance
shall be as per the Act and guidelines of the ministry of mine and shall be submitted by mine
management in form of Bank guarantee.

Impact on Socio-economic Profile

As the mine is in operation since a long, land acquisition is not required and will not lead to
adverse impact on socio-economic profile of study area. On the contrary, the project expansion
and operation will have positive impact on account of following
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• Creation of employment opportunities

• Creation of income generation opportunities in terms of small contractual works,
opportunities in service sector, improvement in physical & social infrastructure on
account of CSR activities, etc.

5.0 Conclusions

Progressive mine closure planning is an important concept which is in practice now a days that
ensures environmentally closure of mine after depletion of coal reserve.Mine closure process
takes 2-3 years after completion of mining activity and is on going process if it is progressive
mine closure. The process normally leaves an adverse impact on the environment and society
that, if left unattended, may last for years to come. The effects of mining on different
components of environment have been studied and the mitigative measures to reduce the adverse
impacts have been suggested.

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