Question : DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SOURCES

(a) whether the Government proposes to develop ditches created by open cast mines to permanent water sources;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to implement the said plan to increase the ground water level particularly in the areas which are facing acute water scarcity and if so, the action taken thereon; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to make any policy or directives to convert the said open and deep ditches into water sources under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fund in several districts of Madhya Pradesh including Damoh and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) to (c) Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR does not have any scheme to develop ditches created by open cast mines to permanent water sources. Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Ministry of Mines, Government of India has informed that as per rule 23C of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) 1988, Final Mine Closure Plan (FMCP) is to be submitted to the Regional Controller of Mines or officer authorized by the State Government, in this behalf as the case may be, for approval, one year prior to the proposed closure of the mine. As per FMCP, submitted by the lessee, wherever possible, it is advised to convert the old workings into water reservoirs as a measure towards reclamation and rehabilitation. The following issues however, need consideration in this regard:

# The exposed strata in such mine may be interconnected. Filling up of one part or a set of such mines may flood the other mines/parts in the near vicinity, which are still operational, which may be hazardous for the miners working there.
# The harmful chemicals present in the unexplored coal may deteriorate the water quality.
# Water sources for catching the rainwater may not be naturally available. Drainage modifications and diversions may have to be developed for providing water for storage in the ditches created by open cast mines.
# It will be necessary to find usage for the captured water as the same may be lost in evaporation and may turn saline due to such storage.
# The slopes of the mines will also need to be examined for the geo-technical stability to avoid any slips or sloughing.
# The decision may be made on case to case basis after studying the above aspects.

As per information received from Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Madhya Pradesh, the Government does not propose to develop ditches created by open cast mines to permanent water sources because there is a provision of reclamation & rehabilitation in rule 34 of the MCDR 1988.

(d) The Indian Bureau of Mines(IBM), has informed that there is no provision in MCDR 1988, for issue of directives for converting open and deep ditches into water sources using CSR funds. Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Madhya Pradesh has informed that they do not propose to make any such policy.