New Delhi: Through the sustainable utilization of coal mine water resources by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Coal, approximately 17.7 lakh individuals residing in 981 villages across nine states have benefitted.
During the fiscal 2022-23, CPSEs discharged approximately 8130 Lakh m 3 of mine water, with 46% allocated for community uses such as domestic and irrigation purposes, 49% for internal domestic and industrial needs, and 6% reserved for groundwater recharge initiatives.
To ensure the suitability of mine water for drinking and irrigation purposes, various treatment methods have been implemented. Numerous measures have been taken to ensure that communities have access to safe and clean water throughout the year, offering both reliability and quality.
During the course of coal mining operations, a significant amount of mine water tends to accumulate in the mine sumps.
These voids serve a dual purpose – not only do they store seepage water from the strata, but they also effectively act as extensive water harvesting and groundwater recharge structures by collecting surface runoff water from the surrounding catchment areas.
The stored mine water serves multiple purposes within the community. These include supplying domestic and drinking water, irrigation for agricultural fields, replenishing groundwater, and supporting industrial activities such as dust suppression and heavy machinery washing.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filter Plant at Ningah Colliery:
- Located within the premises of Ningah Colliery of Eastern Coalfields Limited in Paschim Bardhaman District of West Bengal, a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis (RO) filter plant with a capacity of 5000 litres per hour has been established.
- This plant treats pumped-out mine water, providing safe drinking water and water for domestic use to nearby villages and colonies.
- The RO technology employed effectively removes contaminants and impurities from water by forcing it through a semipermeable membrane, allowing only pure water molecules to pass through while blocking larger particles, ions and impurities. This approach ensures the production of high-quality purified water, meeting various community needs.
R.O. Filter Plant (120 KLD) installed at Sripur Area of Eastern Coalfields Limited
Water Supply Initiatives by SECL in Shahdol and Anuppur Districts, Madhya Pradesh:
- In Shahdol and Anuppur districts of Madhya Pradesh, underground seepage water from Damini, Khairaha, Rajendra, and Navgaon underground mines is channeled into the Sarafa River. Prior to release, this water undergoes purification through step-by-step filtration processes at the Sarafa Dam.
- The treated water is then used for agricultural purposes in the areas surrounding the mines. Additionally, two filtration plants with a combined gross capacity of nine lakh litres have been established, benefiting over 5000 residents in the neighbouring villages of Khannath and Chirhiti.
- Coal CPSEs remain committed to responsible and sustainable mining practices, leveraging mine water resources to improve the lives of communities and protect the environment.
