Palamu Deputy Commissioner Ameet Kumar has directed the management of the Rajhara colliery of CCl here not to pump out its water stored in the open cast mines.
Speaking to The Pioneer on Sunday the DC confirmed this and said, “The Rajhara colliery management was pumping out water from its open cast mine and was releasing into the nearby rivulet. The administration has put an embargo on it with immediate effect. Releasing this stock of stored water in the rivulet was serving no purpose at all.”
He added that engineers of Drinking Water and Sanitation Department had assessed the water stored and were working on a detailed project report for its conversion and treatment for potable uses.
DC said the engineers had assured of the feasibility of conversion of mine water into drinking water which at the place likes Palamu, where summers often starve the residents, the exercise would be of great help.
Asked if disallowing pumping out of stored water would not affect the mining operations, the DC said, “Mining of coal is yet to start from this colliery. There is the issue of environmental clearance and hence a seal on pumping out of stored water will not have any adverse effect on this colliery at this moment.”