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Panchpatmali bauxite deposit, Koraput of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Orissa, is the one amongst a series of bauxite deposits which were discovered in the East Coast region of India in early 1960s. It put India in the 5th position in the world's bauxite map with a total bauxite reserve over two billion tonnes. The mine is certified to ISO-14001 environment management standard since 1996.
The mine has taken all possible measures for air quality management. Ambient air quality is monitored every month at five locations. Dust suppression in the haul roads is carried out with water sprinkling system at ROM hopper and dry fog system is adopted at transfer points of crusher and conveyor system. Wet drilling system and hydro cyclones is carried out in all blast hole drills. Employees are provided with personal protective equipment. Delay detonator and well-designed blasting pattern is developed and maximum use of ripper dozer in place of blasting is undertaken.
After complete exploitation of bauxite, the overburden from advancing face is dumped for backfilling and leveled up, followed by top dressing with a layer of topsoil before plantation. Plant species for afforestation in reclaimed area is being selected on the basis of their adaptability to the physical and climatic conditions. Plantation of about 342 hectares within surface right areas and 262 hectares outside surface right areas with 15,17,769 trees of more than 70 difference species has been carried out.
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