J-11015/16/2007- IA. II (M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment &
Forests
Telefax: 011-24367257
Paryavaran Bhavan, C.G.O. Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003.
Dated:
To
M/s Tungabhadra
Minerals (P) Ltd.
322/3,
2nd Floor
Sree Sapthagiri Enclave,
College Road, Hospet
Karnataka – 583 201.
Sub: Expansion of
Sir,
The
undersigned is directed to refer to the letter dated 23.02.2008,
on the above mentioned subject. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has
examined the application.
2. It
has been noted that the proposal is for expansion of iron ore mining from 0.50
to 1.25 MTPA, at village Taranagar, in Sandur Taluk, in Bellary Distt., in Karnataka. It
has also been noted that the
3. The project has been considered in accordance with the provisions of the
EIA notification issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests vide S.O.
1533 (E), dated
4. Based on the information
submitted by you, as at Para 2 above, the Ministry of Environment and Forests
hereby accords environmental clearance to the above project under the provisions
of ElA notification dated September 14, 2006, subject
to the compliance of the following Specific and General conditions
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A. Specific
conditions
(i)
Environmental clearance is subject to obtaining clearance
under
(ii)
Environmental clearance is subject to obtaining clearance
under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 from the Competent Authority.
(iii)
A Comprehensive
conservation plan for wildlife shall be prepared in consultation with the Chief
Wild Life Warden for implementation within six months before start of expansion
of mining activity. The plan shall consist of in-built monitoring and
evaluation mechanism. Necessary fund for implementation of the same shall be
separately allocated and shall not be diverted for any other activity. Status
of implementation shall be submitted to the Ministry and the Chief Wildlife
Warden.
(iv)
Primary survey of flora and fauna shall be
carried out and report submitted to the Ministry within six months.
(v)
Reclamation of mined
pit shall be done and demonstrated on the ground before the next pit is
touched. No two pits shall be simultaneously worked i.e
before the first is exhausted and reclamation work completed, no mineral
bearing area shall be worked.
(vi)
Adequate buffer zone
shall be maintained between two consecutive mineral bearing deposits.
(vii)
Zero waste mining
concept shall be implemented either by putting up pelletisation
plant or dispose of low grade ores/fines to prospective buyers.
(viii)
Need based assessment for the near by villages
shall be conducted to study economic measures which can help in upliftment of poor section of society. Income generating
projects/tools such as development of fodder farm, fruit bearing orchards,
vocational training etc. can form a part of such programme. Company shall
provide separate budget for community development activities and income
generating programmes. This will be in
addition to vocational training for individuals imparted to take up self
employment and jobs.
(ix)
Land-use pattern of the nearby villages shall be studied and
action plan for abatement and compensation for damage
to agricultural land/ common property land (if any) in the nearby villages, due
to mining activity shall be submitted to the Regional office of the Ministry
within six months. Annual status of implementation of the plan and expenditure
thereon shall be reported to the Regional Office of the Ministry from time to
time.
(x)
Maintenance of
village roads through which transportation of ores are undertaken shall be
carried out by the company regularly at its own expenses. The roads shall be black topped.
(xi)
Rain water harvesting shall be undertaken to recharge the
ground water source. Status of
implementation shall be submitted to the Regional Office of the Ministry within
six months and thereafter every year from the next consequent year.
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(xii)
Ground water in the core zone shall be regularly monitored
for depletion and contamination due to mining activity and mitigation measures
undertaken to prevent adverse affects.
(xiii)
Measures for prevention and control of soil erosion and
management of silt shall be undertaken. Protection of dumps against erosion shall be carried out
with geo textile matting or other suitable material, and thick plantations of
native trees and shrubs shall be carried out at the dump slopes. Dumps shall be
protected by retaining walls.
(xiv)
Trenches / garland drains shall be constructed
at foot of dumps and coco filters installed at regular intervals to arrest silt
from being carried to water bodies. Adequate number of Check Dams and Gully
Plugs shall be constructed across seasonal/perennial nallahs
(if any) flowing through the ML area and silts arrested. De- silting at regular
intervals shall be carried out.
(xv)
Water to be supplied
for drinking purposes shall be treated to meet the prescribed standards.
Monitoring of water quality for drinking shall be undertaken on daily basis
especially for fluoride & arsenic and records maintained.
(xvi)
Occupational health and safety measures for the workers
including identification of work related health hazards, training on malaria
eradication, HIV, and health effects on exposure to mineral dust etc. shall be
carried out. The company shall engage a full time qualified doctor who is
trained in occupational health. Periodic monitoring for exposure to respirable mineral dust on the workers shall be conducted
and records maintained including health records of the workers. Awareness programme for workers on impact of
mining on their health and precautionary measures like use of personal
equipments etc. shall be carried out periodically. Review of impact of various
health measures undertaken (at interval of five years of less) shall be
conducted followed by follow up action wherever required.
(xvii)
Top soil/ solid waste shall be stacked properly with proper
slope and adequate safeguards and shall be utilized for backfilling (wherever
applicable) for reclamation and rehabilitation of mined out area.
(xviii)
Over burden (
Monitoring and
management of rehabilitated areas shall continue until the vegetation becomes self-sustaining. Compliance
status shall be submitted to the Ministry of Environment
& Forests on six monthly basis.
(xix)
Slope of the mining bench and ultimate pit limit shall be as
per the mining scheme approved by Indian Bureau of Mines.
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(xx)
Drilling (if any) shall be conducted by using dust
extractors/wet drilling. Controlled blasting
shall be undertaken.
(xxi)
(xxii)
Regular monitoring of ground water level and quality shall
be carried out by establishing a network of existing wells and constructing new
piezometers during the mining operation. The
monitoring shall be carried out four times in a year – pre-monsoon (April-May),
monsoon (August), post-monsoon (November) and winter (January) and the data
thus collected shall be regularly sent to MoEF,
Central Ground Water Authority and Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board.
(xxiii)
The waste water from the mine shall be treated to conform to
the prescribe standards before discharging in to the natural stream. The discharged water from the Tailing Dam (if
any) shall be regularly monitored and report submitted to the Ministry of Environment
& Forests, Central Pollution Control Board and the Goa
State Pollution Control Board.
(xxiv)
Prior permission from the competent authority shall be
obtained for extraction of ground water, if any.
(xxv)
Vehicular emissions shall be kept under control and
regularly monitored. Vehicles used for transportation of ores and others shall
have valid permissions as prescribed under Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989
and its amendments. Transportation of ore shall be done only during day time. The
vehicles transporting ores shall be covered with a tarpaulin or other suitable
enclosures so that no dust particles / fine matters escape during the course of
transportation. No overloading of ores for transportation shall be committed. The
trucks transporting ore shall not pass through wild life sanctuary.
(xxvi)
Action plan with respect to suggestions/improvements and
recommendations made during public consultation/hearing shall be submitted to
the Ministry and the State Govt within six months.
(xxvii)
A final mine closure plan, along with details of Corpus
Fund, shall be submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests, 5 years
in advance of final mine closure for approval.
B. General
conditions
(i)
No change in mining technology and scope of working shall be
made without prior approval of the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
(ii)
No change in the calendar plan including excavation, quantum
of mineral (iron ore) and waste shall be made.
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(iii)
Four ambient air quality-monitoring stations shall be
established in the core zone as well as in the buffer zone for RPM, SPM, SO2,
NOx monitoring. Location of the stations
should be decided based on the meteorological data, topographical features and
environmentally and ecologically sensitive targets and frequency of monitoring
should be undertaken in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board.
(iv)
Data on ambient air quality (RPM, SPM, S02, NOx) should be
regularly submitted to the Ministry including its Regional office located at
(v)
Fugitive dust emissions from all the sources shall be
controlled regularly. Water spraying arrangement on haul roads, loading and
unloading and at transfer points shall be provided and properly maintained.
(vi)
Measures shall be taken for control of noise levels below 85
dBA in the work environment. Workers engaged in
operations of HEMM, etc. shall be provided with ear plugs / muffs.
(vii)
Industrial waste water (workshop and waste water from the
mine) should be properly collected, treated so as to conform to the standards
prescribed under GSR 422 (E) dated
(viii)
Personnel working in dusty areas shall be provided with
protective respiratory devices and they shall also be imparted adequate
training and information on safety and health aspects.
(ix)
A separate Environmental Management Cell with suitable
qualified personnel shall be set-up under the control of a Senior Executive,
who will report directly to the Head of the Organization.
(x)
The project authorities shall inform to the Regional Office
of the Ministry located at
(xi)
The funds earmarked for environmental protection measures
shall be kept in separate account and shall not be diverted for other purpose.
Year wise expenditure shall be reported to the Ministry and its Regional Office
located at
(xii)
The project authorities shall inform to the Regional Office
located at
(xiii)
The Regional Office of the Ministry located at
(xiv)
A copy of clearance letter will be marked to concerned Panchayat / local NGO, if any, from whom suggestion /
representation has been received while processing the proposal.
(xv)
State Pollution Control Board shall display a copy of the
clearance letter at the Regional office, District Industry Centre and
Collector`s office / Tehsildar`s Office for 30 days.
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(xvi)
The project authorities shall advertise at least in two
local newspapers widely circulated, one of which shall be in the vernacular
language of the locality concerned, within 7 days of the issue of the clearance
letter informing that the project has been accorded environmental clearance and
a copy of the clearance letter is available with the State Pollution Control
Board and also at web site of the Ministry of Environment and Forests at http://envfor.nic.in
and a copy of the same shall be forwarded to the Regional Office of the
Ministry located in Bangalore.
5. The Ministry or any
other competent authority may alter/modify the above conditions or stipulate
any further condition in the interest of environment protection.
6. Concealing factual data
or submission of false/fabricated data and failure to comply with any of the
conditions mentioned above may result in withdrawal of this clearance and
attract action under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
7. Any appeal against this environmental clearance shall lie with
the National Environment Appellate Authority, if preferred, within a period of
30 days as prescribed under Section 11 of the National Environment Appellate
Authority Act, 1997.
8. The above conditions will
be enforced inter-alia, under the provisions of the
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention
& Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
and the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 along with their amendments and
rules.
Yours
faithfully,
(W. Bharat Singh)
Deputy Director (IA)
Copy to:
1. Secretary,
Ministry of Mines, Government of
2. Secretary, Department of
Environment, Government of Karnataka,
3. Secretary, Department of
Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka,
4. Secretary, Department of Forests, Government of
Karnataka,
5. Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional
Office (SZ), Kendriya Sadan,
4th Floor E&F, Wings 17th Main Road, 1 Block, Koranmangala, Bangalore-560 034.
6. Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-Cum-Office
Complex,
7. Chairman, Karnataka State
Pollution Control Board, Parisara Bhawan,
4th & 5th Floor, 49, Church Street, Bangalore – 560
001.
8. Member Secretary, Central
Ground Water Authority, A2, W -
9. Controller
General, Indian Bureau of Mines, Indira Bhavan, Civil Lines,
10. District Collector,
11. EI Division, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan,
12. Monitoring File.
13. Guard File.
14. Record File.
(W. Bharat Singh)
Deputy Director (IA)