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NCL tested mechanized irrigation system on overburden dump slopes

NCL tested mechanized irrigation system on overburden dump slopes

Singrauli: Northern Coalfields Limited, Singrauli based subsidiary of Coal India Limited is continuously inching its efforts towards environmental conservation and has installed a mechanized irrigation system on overburden dump slopes at its Nigahi project for reclamation of vegetation. In another initiative and directive, the company is also observing Van Mahotsav in which massive plantation, distribution of fruit-bearing and shade plants, and development of echo parks is proposed.

NCL operates through 10 opencast mines to excavate more than 100 M coal annually which also requires removing more than 300 million cubic meters of overburden (material to be removed for exposure of coal layer) which is deposited in form of highly elevated dumps. In order to re-establish Flora and fauna, the area above overburden dump tops and slopes are reclaimed with plantation of native species.
 
In some cases, it was observed that plantation on dump dried up due to lack of nutrients and irrigation in prescribed quantity, and some eroded during monsoon season as it takes at least three to five years for a tree to become well-rooted.
Keeping this in mind, the gravity-based drip irrigation system for bio-redevelopment was planned by NCL in a phased manner so that the plants take root within a year, before the next monsoon arrives and in case of heavy rain also, the ability to bind soil can be developed. Required are also supplied from time to time with water.
 
In Nigahi the biggest coal project of NCL, this work has been carried out on a 2-3-hectare area at the slope of the dump as a pilot project. Plant species adapted for this project are as per the environmental conditions of the Nigahi region so that local flora and fauna remain unchanged.
 
NCL is taking hosts of an initiative for the betterment of the environment includes plantation of more than 23 million trees since inception.  The company is using the latest technologies for environmental conservation and has installed continues air quality monitoring systems.

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