MCL Angul coal washery on way to get green nod.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended environment clearance to Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) for setting up a 10 million tonnes per annum capacity coal washery in Angul district.

MCL, a subsidiary of the Coal India Limited (CIL), had proposed to set up Jagannath Coal Washery in an area of 29.94 hectare at Hensmul village in Talcher.

“The EAC recommended for grant of environmental clearance (EC) to the proposed washery subject to compliance of all generic conditions applicable for washery as well as fulfillment of other conditions,” stated the order.

MCL has been asked to set up the washery as per the project report submitted to the committee. It has been told to transport raw coal through pipe-belt conveyor, and clean coal and rejected ones by rail with wagon loading through silo, the EAC said.

The panel has asked MCL to utilise rejected coal in power generation through joint venture companies which have been set up with NTPC. The technology should conform to ‘Zero Liquid Discharge’.

The EAC has further asked MCL to develop thick green belt of 30-45 metre width around the washery to mitigate dust pollution. A three-tier avenue plantation should also be developed along vacant areas, storage yards, loading/transfer points and also along internal main approach roads.

Normally, the Ministry gives final green clearance on the projects based on the recommendations of the EAC.

Coal washeries are beneficiation plant that separates mined coal from impurities such as sand and stones and in the process, minimises ash content in it.

Coal produced by MCL, with more than 40 per cent ash content, is mostly used for power generation. MCL intends to bring down ash content to less than 34 per cent, the mandatory limit prescribed by the Union Government for thermal power plants located less than 500 km from coal mines.

Public hearing for the proposed 10 million tonne annual capacity coal washery plant was cancelled in February following stiff opposition from the local villagers. They claimed that it would add to the environment pollution in and around Talcher. The green panel has deferred its decision on granting environment clearance to Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) for a `336.9 crore coal washery project in Jharsuguda district due to objections raised by local villages.

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS