The impact on environment due to extraction of coal is being monitored constantly and adequate measures for control of Air, Water & Noise Pollution, Land degradation, Deforestation etc. are taken. These measures are being undertaken in accordance with the provisions of all statutory norms, acts and rules on a regular basis by way of following Environment Protection Activities:-

1)    Afforestation and Eco-friendly Activities:-

Sl. No.	F.Y.	Trees planted	Area covered (Ha.)	Expenditure (Rs in lakhs)	Remarks
1	2008-09	112800	45.20	31.87	Due to increased availability  of land in 2009-10
2	2009-10	133400	54.00	35.71

2)    Environment Management Plan Monitoring by MOEF :
          
In compliance of EMP conditions imposed by MOEF, monitoring is being done on a regular basis for 29(twenty-nine) running projects against eleven (11) projects in 2008-09. Six monthly reports are being sent to Eastern Regional Office, MOEF, Bhubaneshwar for 11 (eleven) projects and the process in respect of balance nine (9) projects has also been initiated.
   
Also Air, Water & Noise quality analysis are being done for these projects by CMPDI as per stipulation of MOEF on a quarterly basis. Necessary mitigation measures are being adopted by different areas of ECL.
      
3)  Statutory Requirement of State Pollution Control Board:

a)  Annual Consent for discharge of water and emission of air is being obtained, for each colliery from respective State Pollution Control Boards, maintaining the statutory provisions and Rules of Water Pollution Act ’74, Air Pollution Act ’81 and Environment Protection Act ’86.
b)  Required Water Cess (including arrears) based on consumption of water is being deposited by all the collieries, with respective State Pollution Control Boards, as per Water Cess Act ’77.
c)  Annual Environmental Statement in Form V (Rule 14 of Environment Protection Act 1986) is submitted to respective State Pollution Control Boards.

4)  Observance of World Environment Day :

World Environment Day is being observed every year on 5th June by way of inter-colliery/project/area competition. Area-wise inspection is done by inspection teams and annual performance of environment measures/activities are evaluated. Based on the evaluations for different categories, merit position of collieries/projects/areas is determined and winners are awarded Shields/Merit Certificates etc.

5)  Vanmahotsav Week:

Vanmahotsav week  is celebrated from 14th to 20th July each year to bring awareness amongst all  workers and nearby villagers for maintenance of existing forests as well as creation of  new forests so that the mine areas are benefitted by better Environmental Conditions.

6)  Environmental Clearance granted by MOEF, New Delhi:

    During 2009-10 Environmental Clearance was received for the following projects:
7)     Environmental Clearance of ECL mines / projects pending at
        S.P.C.B  and MOEF Projects:

Area	Name of Project	Capital investment (Rs. in Crore)	Capacity  (MTY)	Status of EMP Clearance	Pendingat
Kunus-toria	Narainkuri UGP (Under XI th Plan)	73.53	0.540 (updated)	Public Hearing scheduled  be on 14-10-09 was postponed by West Bengal Pollution Control Board.	WBPCB
	Kunustoria Block (Dobrana, Dhasal   & Bamanbad Seams) UGP	144.81	0.735	Public Hearing scheduled on 02-12-09   was postponed.	WBPCB
	Belbaid	69.11& 56.48 for alternative I & II	0.480	Final EIA/EMP received on 31-03-10 and dispatched to CGM, CIL, New Delhi.	MOEF
	Bansra UGP	Additional capital investment Rs 121.95	Expansion from 0.345 to 0.735	Public Hearing documents under preparation at RI-I, Asansol.	CMPDI, RI-I, Asansol
Jhanjra	Jhanjra UGP	122.35	3.500	Public Hearing documents under preparation at RI-I, Asansol	CMPDI, RI-I, Asansol
Panda-veswar	Rangamati- B UGP	125.29	0.480	Draft EMP and Public Hearing documents are under preparation at RI-I, Asansol	CMPDI, RI-I, Asansol

Cluster Concept:

Cluster No.	Name of mines	Status of EMP Clearance	Pending at
3	Dabor UG, Bonjemehari UG & OC, Sangramgarh UG & OC, Dalmia UG	Feasibility report & Form-I forwarded to MOEF, New Delhi	MOEF

8) Cluster concept for  old Mines of ECL:

Consequent to the notification of Sept. 2006, it has become mandatory to obtain Environmental Clearance of all mines in the country. Out of 111 mines, Environmental Clearance had been obtained for 20 mines, 91 belong to pre 1994 period. These 91 mines have been divided into 13 clusters based on the principle of contiguity. ECL has started the process of obtaining Environmental Clearance in respect of 64 mines leaving aside 27 mines where production is suspended.

 Form – I application of Cluster no. 3 has been submitted to MOEF for finalization of Terms of Reference (TOR).

9) Land Reclamation  by filling with fly ash:

As a compliance of the directives by MOEF, New Delhi ECL is offering its old/abandoned OCPs/quarries for filling by fly ash.

10) Water supply activities:
   
A number of old OCPs in ECL are being utilized for fulfilling the water supply needs of its employees and a large population in the surrounding villages of ECL’s leasehold areas. PHE deptt. of  West Bengal Govt., is utilizing water from the abandoned OCP at Itapara, West Baraboni to supply water to a population of 15164.

11) Minor irrigation activities:

Water from many abandoned OCPs/quarries are being used for irrigation by the villages around  ECL’s leasehold areas.  West Bengal Govt. is utilizing many such OCPs to provide Minor irrigation facilities to villages.

12) Pisciculture:

Abandoned OCPs in ECL are being used by  local villagers and employees for fish cultivation.