Environmental control measures adopted at mine degraded area due to open cast mining operation. Reclamation process of mine affected land and water at North Eastern Coalfields can be broadly grouped into three categories i.e. Biological, Physical and Chemical measures. Following are the series of measures adopted :

 

(1)        Filling-up of voids created due to opencast mining.

(2)        Laying top soil on filled-up voids.

(3)        Biological measures :                 (a)        Transplantation of Jharu/Kush

                                                             (b)               Broadcasting of leguminous seeds for

development of greenery

                                                            (c)                Plantation of tree saplings

 (d)        Maintenance of saplings for better survival rate.

(4)        Physical measures :                   (a)        Construction of boulder check dam

                                                             (b)               Gully-plugging along with bamboo netting.

                                                             (c)                Terracing/benching of OB dumps.

                                                             (d)               Half-moon terracing

                                                             (e)                Construction toe wall at the foot of OB dump.

                                                             (f)                 Bamboo fencing around OB dump and coal dump for

                                                                          prevention of siltation and wash-out coal.

 (5)        Chemical measures                   (a)        Construction of Effluent Treatment Plant

                                                             (b)        Construction neutralization tank for primary treatment of

                                                                        mine discharges.

 

WATER SPRAYING FOR DUST CONTROL

Water spraying for dust control along haul road and coal loading points have been done to control dust generation and to prevent air borne dust.

Biological Measures

Shrubs transplanted : Jharu, Kush, Turfing of grass etc

            Seeds broadcasted : Crotolaria, Mimosa, Sesbenia Aculate, Teprosia Candida,Arahar etc.

 Tree saplings planted : Accacia Auriculaformis, Albizzia Mulacana, AlbizziaOdoratissima, Tea, Orange, Ficas, Hybrid Eucalyptus, Sisoo, Gomari (Gamalina Arborea), Cassia Siamea, Bokain (Milia Azardirachta), Khokon (local species), Rain Trees (Pithocolobium Saman) etc.

 Recently Jetropha-Carcus seeds broadcasted in OB dumps and result is very affective.

Mine discharges are acidic in nature. For reducing the acidity two Effluent Treatment Plant constructed/commissioned at two mines (one at Tirap Opencast with 1200 GPM capacity and another at Tipong colliery with 600 GPM capacity). This is the first and only treatment facility in coal mines of India.