India wants to use Overburden (OB), the by product from mining operations, and process it to produce Manufactured-Sand (M-Sand), which can be used in construction projects. This move will reduce dependency on river sand and preventing environmental degradation, a Coal Ministry statement said.
To make this possible, public-sector undertakings (PSUs) have commissioned four OB processing plants and five OB-to-M-sand pilot plants. Additionally, six more OB processing and OB-to-M-sand plants are currently in various stages of installation within the Coal/Lignite PSUs, the statement added.
These plans have been listed in a report by a High-Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) of the Coal Ministry. The report has recommended that coal companies can be mandated to practice mining of other minerals present in OB strata or gainful utilization of OB for economic value rather than mining of just coal.
According to the HPEC report, there is a vast potential for gainful utilisation of overburden from coal mines. The OB may contain valuable building material, armour stone, rare earth, limestone, fire clay, sand, brick clay, kaolin, pegmatite, and basalt among others, that can be used railways and road construction.
Further, Major minerals likely to be obtained from OB will be building material including processed sand and processed OB for landfilling and/or stowing.
“The pressure on the river system due to sand mining is creating an ecological hazard. Mitigation of exploitation of sand from rivers will come a long way in restoring the health of Indian river system by providing an alternative building memorial which otherwise may have been wasted in the OB,” the report noted.
HPEC has recommended that Forest Clearance given for mining operations may include diversion of other available minerals instead of specific clearance solely for coal. Changes have also been proposed in Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and its subsequent amendment, for preparation of mining plan and project reports having provision to extract useful minerals present in OB dumps from the coal mining area.
“The commercial sale of this M-sand is expected to generate significant revenue for coal companies, and support local economies,” the statement added.
To make this possible, public-sector undertakings (PSUs) have commissioned four OB processing plants and five OB-to-M-sand pilot plants. Additionally, six more OB processing and OB-to-M-sand plants are currently in various stages of installation within the Coal/Lignite PSUs, the statement added.
These plans have been listed in a report by a High-Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) of the Coal Ministry. The report has recommended that coal companies can be mandated to practice mining of other minerals present in OB strata or gainful utilization of OB for economic value rather than mining of just coal.
According to the HPEC report, there is a vast potential for gainful utilisation of overburden from coal mines. The OB may contain valuable building material, armour stone, rare earth, limestone, fire clay, sand, brick clay, kaolin, pegmatite, and basalt among others, that can be used railways and road construction.
Further, Major minerals likely to be obtained from OB will be building material including processed sand and processed OB for landfilling and/or stowing.
“The pressure on the river system due to sand mining is creating an ecological hazard. Mitigation of exploitation of sand from rivers will come a long way in restoring the health of Indian river system by providing an alternative building memorial which otherwise may have been wasted in the OB,” the report noted.
HPEC has recommended that Forest Clearance given for mining operations may include diversion of other available minerals instead of specific clearance solely for coal. Changes have also been proposed in Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and its subsequent amendment, for preparation of mining plan and project reports having provision to extract useful minerals present in OB dumps from the coal mining area.
“The commercial sale of this M-sand is expected to generate significant revenue for coal companies, and support local economies,” the statement added.
