The idea to use huge water storages at hundreds of non-operational coal mines has fallen prey to technicalities both at the Government level as well as at coal mining firms. It is learnt that the precious water that could have easily quenched thrust of villagers nearby, most of them are displaced and living without proper drinking water facility, is not being used in the want of no-objection certificates (NOCs) to be issued by coal majors.
Highly placed sources Bharat Coking Coal limited (BCCl) confirmed this that there have been demands seeking the NOC but the company is unable to furnish due to certain issues involved.
“It is very difficult to issue the NOC to the Government to use the mine water by setting up water purification plant etc since in practice mines are rarely declared closed for ever on paper. Also, the NOC would prevent us in operating further over there despite having found new coal deposits,” said a General Manager rank official of BCCl.
The State Government in this regard has come across some bitter experiences forcing it look the other way. Officials of Drinking Water and Sanitation confide that there have been around 10 such schemes meant to supply mine water to nearby areas but most of those could not last long.
“We have had several such schemes but barely one or two are continuing at present. One scheme is underway at Hazaribagh which is likely to be commissioned in couple of months from now. The issue is that we are not sure about continuous supply of water and in that case entire investment of ours goes into drains,” said AP Singh, Principal Secretary of the Department.
The official further said that recently two such projects at Patratu and another at Dhanbad had to meet the unfortunate end in the middle. At Patratu the CCl, having not furnished the NOC, started digging another pit nearby that drained the entire water out and left the scheme high and dry.
“We have mixed experience in this regard so far in the State. They don’t provide us the NOC and continue operating in other mine nearby. We believe in principle that mine water stored in abundance in the State and left unused should be brought out for public purposes but have to adopt cautious approach. We don’t go wholeheartedly for that,” said AP Singh.
Moreover insiders in the coal mining firms quipped that absence of mine closure plan was another major hurdle coming in the way of using mine water.
“There is the provision of mine opening plan procedure as well as it closure plan in the Mines Safety Act. This is incumbent upon the mining companies to reclaim the mine by filling it before handing it over to the Government. Since it is a tedious and expansive exercise the companies often avoid declaring any mine closed and instead keep it in suspension. In that case issuing NOC does not become possible,” said an official.