Question : Pumping out Water from Mines of NCL

(a) whether flash flood had caused widespread damage in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu in the month of December, 2015;
(b) if so, whether the major cause for the floods and inundation of thousands of acres of land was the huge quantity of water pumped from the mines of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited without prior warning and safety measures;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any enquiry has been conducted by the Union Government in this regard; and
(e)if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government to check recurrence of such incidents in future?

ANSWER
MINISTEROF STATE (IC) IN THE MINISTERYOFCOAL, POWER AND NEW&RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRIPIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) There were flash flood in the Cuddalore District of Tamilnadu in the month of November & December, 2015.Neyveli received persistent rainfall for 23 days during November-December, 2015. There was an unprecedented rainfall of around 435 mm in 8 hours on 9th November 2015 which is the highest ever rainfall (in a day) since inception of NLC. During the month of November 2015 and during December 2015, rain fall of 943 mm and 424 mm respectively were recorded in Neyveli. Almost entire mining operation was paralyzed and there was a huge setback in power generation.

(b) and(c): No, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., had restrained its groundwater pumping and storm water pumping even though the mines were inundated during this period. The same was also informed to the concerned authorities. The details are given below:
“Due to the unprecedented heavy rainfall of this quantum during November/ December 2015, one of its severestkind in last 100 years in the region, the OB systems and the lignite bench system in all the mines and generation of power came to standstill.Many feeders at Mines sub-station tripped due to the gusty winds and waves, water entered the Storm Water Control (SWC) pontoons and a number of pontoons commissioned in sumps got sub-merged. Due to tripping of feeders and submerging of pontoons, the SWC pumping and Ground Water Control (GWC) pumping were seriously affected immediately after rains. District Administration did not allow pumping out the water from the flooded mines (with the apprehension of over flooding of surrounding villages).”
As such the major cause for the floods and inundation of thousands of acres of land was the huge quantity of rain water during the said period in the Cuddalore District.
(d)&(e):No Madam. However, Neyveli lignite Corporation Limited, on its part has de-silted theWalajalake and the water holding capacity was enhanced by about 22.75 lakh cubic meter at an estimated cost of about Rs 14.00 Crore, under its Corporate social responsibility activity.
Further, NLC plans to carryout de-silting of other water bodies of the neighborhood as identified by the respective State Govt. authorities for enhancing the holding capacity to avoid inundation of surrounding area.

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