Juna Kunada Coal Mine
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The Juna Kunada Coal Mine was an opencast mine located in Vijasan, a village that falls under Bhadravati Municipal Corporation, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India.
As of May 2018, the mine has been permanently closed.[1]
Location
The satellite image below shows the approximate area of the now-closed mine in Ghughus village, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra State, India.
Background
The Juna Kanada Open Cast Coal Mine Project, which was an 8-year project, was first accorded with the environmental clearance on 10th January 2005. It had a production capacity of 0.60 MTPA in a mine lease area of 184.87 ha. The project received its environment clearance on 07th February 2014 for expansion from 0.60 MTPA to 1.2 MTPA. [2]. The project proponent further applied for the expansion from 1.2 MTPA to 1.5 MTPA to EAC. The EAC recommended the expansion during 31st EAC (Thermal and Coal mining projects) held on 16th-17th February 2015. [3]. The Committee, after detailed deliberations, recommended for granting EC with the same conditions as in the earlier EC. The EIA report for the same was updated in November 2014 by the project proponent [4].
Dangerous Occurrences
In November 2017, minor cracks (01-02mm) were observed at 172mRL overburden bench of the mine. 06 excavators were deployed on overburden benches below 172mRL. The machineries were withdrawn and deployed at black cotton soil benches above 172mRL as a precautionary measure. On 28.11.2017, 29.11.2017 and 30.11.2017 widening of cracks up to 05cm and formation of fresh cracks at 160mRL and 150mRL benches were observed. However, keeping these cracks under observation, the extraction of coal in the pit was continued. On 01.12.2017 at about 01.05 am 10-12 overburden benches failed and slide down. Benches/slope failed from 172mRL, where cracks were first observed on 27.11.2017. Benches of 550m width at bottom (56mRL) and about 50m width at top (172mRL) failed for a height of about 110m. Due to sliding of benches, the coal bench at the bottom and immediate overburden bench above coal seam heaved up for a height of about 5 to 20mtr.[5]
At the time of incidence 04 excavators, 08 tippers, 01 dozer, 02 drill machine and 01 service van along with 30 persons were present in the pit. Except one drill machine, all the machines got trapped in heaving of floor. However, no machine was buried under debris but got tilted or toppled due to heaving. All the supervisors and excavator operators were provided with walkie-talkie. At the first instance of sensing slide/ movement of strata, all were alerted to run away. All persons escaped safely except 03 persons who received minor injuries.
Mine Details
- Operator: Western Coalfields Limited
- Owner: Coal India Limited
- Location: Bhadravati (Municipal Council), Chandrapur District, Maharashtra State, India
- GPS Coordinates: 20.051389, 79.061667
- Status: Retired[1]
- Production Capacity: 0.6 MTPA
- Total Resource:
- Mineable Reserves: 5.7 MT
- Coal Type: Non-coking coal, Grade E (3360-4200 GCV cal/kg)
- Mine Size: 325.87 hectares
- Mine Type: Opencast with shovel-dumper combination
- Start Year:
- Closure Year: 2018[1]
- Source of Financing:
- Coal Linkage: Thermal Power Station of MAHAGENCO
- Permits and Applications:
Expansion Details
- Status: Retired
- Size of Expansion: 1.5 MTPA
- Permits and Applications: Minutes of 31st EAC (Thermal and Coal mining projects) meeting
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Environmental Audit Statements Financial Year: 2019-20, WCL website, Accessed June 2023.
- ↑ Environment Clearance for Juna Kunada Expansion Mining Project
- ↑ Minutes of 31st EAC (Thermal and Coal mining projects) meeting
- ↑ Addendum EIA/EMP of Juna Kunada OC Expansion Mine for Enhancement of Production from 1.2 MTPA to 1.5 MTPA
- ↑ Notice by DGMS regarding dangerous occurrence
