Land Management
Water management especially ground water management is an important issue for open pit mining. A detailed water management plan has been prepared for the Phulbari Coal Project evaluating water sources in Phulbari and surrounding areas, existing water supply system and water use pattern of local people.
Groundwater extraction is required to keep the mine dry and maintain safe working condition. This will lower the water table in and around the mine area in varying degrees and availability of water for domestic, agriculture and other uses will be temporarily hampered.
Asia Energy is committed to ensure safe and reliable water supply to affected people and the community. The potential impacts of water extraction will be minimised under an integrated mitigation measures and availability of water will be ensured to affected villages, Phulbari Township and agriculture. Asia Energy will work closely with experts, regulatory agencies as well as with the community to further improve the management strategies which will meet the Project objectives and the requirements of the environment and the community.
As part of management strategy, a portion of extracted water from the mine area will be supplied to existing and the new Phulbari Township through pipelines. A piped water supply system will ensure water for domestic uses in affected villages. Another portion of extracted water will be supplied to the affected farmlands, and a detailed irrigation scheme has been developed. Agricultural production will be increased with significant reduction in production costs due to ensured and reliable supply of free water throughout the year.
In addition, around 25-30 percent of extracted water will be infiltrated into the aquifer to limit lowering of water table to the near mining areas. It is a well-tested and recognized method in the world and has been using very successfully in open cut mines in the world including renowned RWE mines of Germany. It is worth mentioning, RWE was involved with Asia Energy for review of water management plan.
According to the requirements, some portion of extracted water will also be supplied to the adjacent river and water bodies to protect the habitats of aquatic fauna and flora and to maintain water quality and present seasonal water flow. No untreated water will be discharged to the adjacent river and water bodies generated from mining activities. Only treated water after meeting national and international standards will be supplied. An extensive monitoring system will be in place so that the impacts of mining activities and mitigation measures taken can be assessed.
Agriculture Development
Phulbari Coal Mine will require acquisition of 5,192 hectares of land, of which about 80 percent is agricultural land. But the land occupation process will be in phases and no more than 2,000 hectares will be in use at any stage of mine development. The remainder will therefore continue to be available for non-mining productive uses either prior to mining or following post-mining rehabilitation. The impact of mining activities on agriculture and development opportunities has been assessed through extensive studies and field level demonstration, and an Agricultural Development Plan has been prepared. Asia Energy is committed to ensuring the Phulbari Coal Project has a positive impact on agriculture production and farmer’s incomes.
Agriculture will be a key component of Asia Energy’s livelihood restoration plan for affected people. The farmers will be provided assistance with training, introduction to improved agricultural practices, free round the year irrigation water, agricultural inputs such as quality seeds, fertilizer, pesticides etc under an integrated management plan. The training program will include agricultural production, livestock and dairy farming, poultry production, fish production, cultivation of high yielding and early cash crops etc. Asia Energy will establish a wholesale market in the extended western part of Phulbari Township and also assist farmers with market related information. The opportunity for on-farm research and development will be created so that farmers can select best suited technologies under their own circumstances.
The principles that will be followed to improve agriculture are:
Land remains under agriculture for as long as possible until needed by mining.
Land is progressively rehabilitated following extraction of the coal and returned as quickly as possible to agriculture.
Abundant water will be made available for all-year irrigation which will also save pumping costs for farmers.
Implement the Agriculture Improvement Plan ahead of mining so that agriculture production is increased immediately.
Promote agri-based industries to maximise benefit for the local people.
An independent study on impacts of mining on agriculture suggests that farmers may witness loss of overall volume of agricultural production in initial few years of mining but this situation is quickly overtaken and there will be net gain of production over the mine life. The study also found that agriculture has the potential to become a commercially viable livelihood alternative than its present subsistence form and production will be more than double from the pre-mining stage. This will achieve through improved and timely inputs (seed, irrigation water, fertilizer, pesticides) and technical guidance.
