No. J-11015/288/2008-IA.II(M)
Government
of India
Ministry
of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran
Bhavan,
C.G.O.
Complex, Lodi Road,
New
Delhi-110 003.
Dated the 21st
February, 2011
To
M/s
Aryan Mining & Trading Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
Narayanposhi
Iron & Manganese Ore Mine,
Near
Koira & Kashira Village, Tehsil Bonai,
District
Sundergarh,
Orissa
E-mail:
contact@aryanmining.in
Subject: Expansion of Narayanposhi Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project of M/s Aryan Mining
& Trading Corporation Pvt. Ltd. located in Village(s) Koira & Kashira,
Tehsil Bonai, District Sundergarh, Orissa- environmental clearance
regarding.
Sir,
This has
reference to your letter No. 19-EIA/10-11 dated 12.07.2010 and subsequent
letter dated 30.09.2010 and 04.02.2011 on the subject mentioned above. The
project was earlier prescribed Terms of Reference (TORs) by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests on 22.12.2008 for undertaking detailed EIA study for
the purpose of obtaining environmental clearance. The proposal is for
enhancement of production of iron ore from 0.6million tonnes per annum (million
TPA) to 3million TPA and manganese ore from 0.0078 million TPA to 0.036 million
TPA along with 1200 TPH crushing and screening plants. The project was earlier
granted environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on
28.03.2007 for production of 6LTPA(0.6 million TPA) of iron ore and
7800TPA(0.0078million TPA) of manganese ore involving total mining lease area
of 349.254ha.
2. The
total mine lease area of the project is 349.254ha, out of which 259.191ha is
forestland and 90.063ha is others. The mine lease area forms part of Kathamala
Reserve Forests. Forestry clearance has been obtained for 244.327 ha and the
remaining 14.864 ha will remain as safety zone. The natural drainage system is
distinct and dendritic due to hilly topography. The Karo nadi and the Teherai
nalla are the perennial rivers of the study area. The study area falls in the
catchments of the Karo river. In addition, several 1st and 2nd
order streams namely the Lekera Pani Nala (1.5 km E), Teheri Nala (5.5 km SE),
Kalmanga Nala (3.2 km NE), Kara Madi (2km N), Samij Nala (3km NW), Erua Nala
(3km W), Sarakanda Nadi (10km SSW), Gamlei Nala (7.5km NNE), Tapodihi Nala
(7.5km ESE), Khajurdhi Nala (7.5km SSE) and Parahi Nala (8.5km SSE) are
reported in the buffer zone of the mine. Area proposed for mining is
232.68ha, an area of 12.06ha is kept
for OB dumps, 4.292ha for mineral storage, 1ha for infrastructure, 2.7ha for
roads, 30.995ha for green belt, 5ha for mineral separation plant and 60.527ha
is others.
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3. No national park/wildlife sanctuary/biosphere reserve/tiger
reserve/elephant reserve etc. are reported to be located in the core and buffer
zone of the mine. In support of this the proponent has submitted an
authenticated map from the DFO and Wildlife Warden, Bonai Division. The
Karo-Karampada Elephant Corridor is reported to be located at a distance of
18km from the mine lease. Ten reserve forests namely the Kathamala RF(within
core zone), the Mendamarni RF(1km E), the Tohra RF(1.1 km WNW), the Karo RF(1km
N), the Uliburu RF(5.5kmN), the Lakraghat RF(8.1kmNE), the Sidhamath
RF(9.3kmENE), the Karampada RF (7.5km
N), the Sarkanda RF(7.5km SW) and the Khajuridihi RF(9.2km S) are located in
the buffer zone of the mine.
4. The mine working will be opencast by
semi-mechanized method involving drilling and blasting. The targetted
production capacity of the mine is 3million TPA of iron ore and 36,000TPA of
manganese ore and the life of mine is 23years for iron ore and 7years for the
manganese ore. Approximately 10,120TPD of ore will be transported through the
road. The topography of the area is undulated and hilly at an elevation of 600m
above mean sea level. The present working depth of mine is 556m AMSL for iron
ore and 559m AMSL for manganese ore. The ultimate working depth of mine will be
546m AMSL for iron ore and 541m AMSL for manganese ore. The water table is
reported to occur at a depth of 545m RL during monsoon and 542m RL during dry
season. Working of iron ore will not intersect the groundwater table in the
conceptual stage, whereas the working of manganese ore may puncture the water
table. The proponent has provided the hydro-geology study of the area. It has
been stated that the buffer zone represents an area, where stage of development
is only a meager 29.12% and as per data collected from secondary source, there
is no significant fall in water level trend, so the area can be categorised as
‘safe’ from groundwater development point of view. The peak water requirement
of the project is estimated as 250m3 per day, which will be sourced
from the Karo Nallah. The proponent has stated that local inhabitants settled
in their own patta land, which is a part of mine lease and is a non mineral
bearing area, they will continue to reside there and no R&R is envisaged.
It is estimated that 45 lakhs m3 of waste will be generated during
the life of the mine, which will be partially backfilled. There will be three external OB dumps
covering an area of 12.06 ha spread at three locations; however, the waste to
be generated after 2015-16 will be concurrently backfilled. The maximum project
height of the dumps will be 30m having four terraces of 7.5m each. The external
dumps will be rehabilitated and stabilized by plantation. Plantation will be
raised in an area of 244.74ha at the end of the mine life.
5. The public hearing of the project was held
on 26.02.2010 for enhancement of production of iron ore from 0.6MTPA TPA to 3.0MTPA and manganese ore from 0.0078MTPA to
0.036MTPA and establishing a 1200TPH crushing and screening plant over an area
of 349.254ha. The Indian Bureau of Mines had approved scheme of mining
alongwith PMCP of the project on 29.04.2010 over an area of 349.254ha. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests had
accorded forestry clearance for diversion of 244.327ha forestland
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on 15.11.2007. The Conservator
of Forests(Wildlife), Office of PCCF(Wildlife) and CWLW, Government of Orissa
approved site specific wildlife conservation plan vide letter Memo
No.6257/1WL-C-SSP-260/2010 dated 04.09.2010. The capital cost of the project is
Rs.11000Lakhs and the capital cost for the environmental protection measures is
proposed as Rs.74Lakhs. The annual recurring cost towards the environmental
protection measures is proposed as Rs.30Lakhs. It has been stated that there is no court case to the project or related activity.
6. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has
examined the application in accordance with the EIA Notification, 2006. It was
observed that the production from the mine was enhanced after 2007 without
obtaining requisite prior environmental clearance and thereby violated the
provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Accordingly, as per the
procedure prescribed vide Circular No. J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I) dated
16.11.2006 the proponent was asked to place the matter before the Board of
Directors of Company and submit a written commitment in the form of formal
resolution that the violation of the Environment (Protection) Act,1986 will not
be repeated. Having received the resolution of the Board of Directors passed in
its meeting dated 04.02.2011 submitted vide letter No 64/MoEF/10-11 dated
04.02.2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests hereby
accords environmental clearance under the provisions thereof to the above
mentioned Narayanposhi Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project of M/s
Aryan Mining & Trading Corporation Pvt. Ltd for
an annual production capacity of three(3) million TPA of iron ore and
0.036 million tones of manganese ore by the opencast semi-mechanized method involving total mine lease area of
349.254ha, subject to implementation of the following conditions and
environmental safeguards.
A. Specific
Conditions
(i)
The project proponent shall obtain Consent to Establish and Consent to
Operate from the State Pollution
Control Board, Orissa and effectively implement all the conditions stipulated therein.
(ii)
Environmental
clearance is subject to grant of forestry clearance.
(iii)
Environmental clearance
is subject to final order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the matter
of Goa Foundation Vs. Union of India in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 460 of 2004,
as may be applicable to this project.
(iv)
Environmental
clearance is subject to obtaining clearance under the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 from the competent authority, as may be applicable to this project.
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(v)
The project proponent
shall ensure that no natural watercourse and/or water resources shall be
obstructed due to any mining operations. Adequate measures
shall be taken for conservation and protection of the seasonal nallah passing
through the mine lease and also the first order and the second order streams,
if any emanating/passing through the mine lease area during the course of mining
operation.
(vi)
The top soil, if any
shall temporarily be stored at earmarked site(s) only and it should not be kept
unutilized for long. The topsoil shall be used for land reclamation and
plantation.
(vii)
The
proponent shall carry out sequential mining to the extent possible so as to
have minimum number of external OB dumps.
(viii)
The over burden
generated during the mining operation shall be
stacked at earmarked dump site(s) only and it should not be kept active for a
long period of time and its phase-wise stabilization shall be carried
out. Backfilling shall commence from the year
2010 onwards. There shall be three external OB dumps. The maximum height of
dump(s) shall not exceed 30m having four terraces of 7.5m each, so that the
overall slope of the dump(s) shall be maintained to 27°. The waste to be generated after 2015-16 shall be
concurrently backfilled. The over burden dump(s) shall be scientifically
vegetated with suitable native species to prevent erosion and surface run off.
In critical areas, use of geo textiles shall be undertaken for stabilization of
the dump(s). 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 and its Regional Office
located at Bhubaneswar on six monthly basis.
(ix)
Catch drains and
siltation ponds of appropriate size shall be constructed around the mine
working, OB and mineral dump(s) to prevent run off of water and flow of sediments
directly into the Karo Nadi, the Teherai Nalla, 1st and 2nd
order seasonal nallahs and other water bodies. The water so collected should be
utilized for watering the mine area, roads, green belt development etc. The
drains shall be regularly desilted particularly after the monsoon and
maintained properly.
Garland drains, settling tanks
and check dams of appropriate size,
gradient and length shall be constructed around the mine pit and OB and mineral
dump(s) to prevent run off of water and flow of sediments directly into the Karo Nadi, the Teherai Nalla, 1st
and 2nd order seasonal nallahs and other water bodies and sump
capacity should be designed keeping 50% safety margin over and above peak sudden rainfall (based on 50 years
data) and maximum discharge in the area adjoining the mine site. Sump capacity
should also provide adequate retention period to allow proper settling of silt
material. Sedimentation pits shall be constructed at the corners of the garland
drains and desilted at regular intervals.
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(x)
Dimension of the
retaining wall at the toe of the over burden dumps and the OB benches within the mine to check
run-off and siltation shall be based on the rain fall data.
(xi)
Plantation shall be
raised in an area of 244.74ha including a 7.5m wide green belt in the safety
zone around the mining lease by planting the native species around reclaimed
area, OB dump(s), mine benches, along the roads etc. in consultation with the
local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the trees should be around
2500 plants per hectare. Greenbelt shall be developed all along the mine lease area in a phased
manner and shall be completed within first five years.
(xii)
Effective safeguard
measures such as regular water sprinkling shall be carried out in critical
areas prone to air pollution and having high levels of particulate matter such
as around crushing and screening plant, loading and unloading point and
transfer points. Extensive water sprinkling shall be carried out on haul roads.
It should be ensured that the Ambient Air Quality parameters conform to the
norms prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.
(xiii)
The project authority
should implement suitable conservation measures to augment ground water resources in the area in consultation
with the Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board.
(xiv)
Regular monitoring of
ground water level and quality shall be carried out in and around the project
area(mine lease, beneficiation plant and tailing ponds) by establishing a
network of existing wells and installing new piezometers during the operation.
The periodic monitoring [(at least four times in a year- pre-monsoon
(April-May), monsoon (August), post-monsoon (November) and winter (January);
once in each season)] shall be carried out in consultation with the State Ground
Water Board/Central Ground Water Authority and the data thus collected may be
sent regularly to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and its Regional
Office Bhubneswar, the Central Ground Water Authority and the Regional
Director, Central Ground Water Board. If at any stage, it is observed that the
groundwater table is getting depleted due to the mining activity, necessary
corrective measures shall be carried out.
(xv)
Appropriate
mitigative measures should be taken to prevent pollution of the Karo Nadi in
consultation with the State Pollution Control Board.
(xvi)
The project proponent shall obtain necessary prior permission/NOC of the
competent authorities for drawl of requisite quantity of water required for the project.
(xvii)
The project proponent
shall practice suitable rainwater harvesting measures on long term basis and
work out a detailed scheme for rainwater harvesting in consultation with the
Central Groundwater Authority and submit a copy of the same to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests and its Regional Office, Bhubneswar.
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(xviii) Vehicular emissions shall be kept under control and
regularly monitored. Measures shall be taken for maintenance of vehicles used
in mining operations and in transportation of mineral. The mineral
transportation shall be carried out through the covered trucks only and the
vehicles carrying the mineral shall not be
overloaded. No transportation of ore outside the mine lease area shall be
carried out after the sunset.
(xix)
No blasting shall be
carried out after the sunset. Blasting operation shall be carried out only
during the daytime. Controlled blasting shall be practiced. The mitigative
measures for control of ground vibrations and to arrest fly rocks and boulders
should be implemented.
(xx)
Drills shall either
be operated with the dust extractors or equipped with water injection system.
(xxi)
Mineral handling area
shall be provided with adequate number of high efficiency dust extraction
system. Loading and unloading areas including all the transfer points should
also have efficient dust control arrangements. These should be properly
maintained and operated.
(xxii) Sewage treatment
plant shall be installed for the colony. ETP shall also be provided for the workshop and wastewater generated
during the mining operation.
(xxiii) Effective safeguard measures should be taken to
control fugitive emissions so as to ensure that RSPM (PM10) levels
are within prescribed limits.
(xxiv) Pre-placement medical examination and periodical
medical examination of the workers engaged in the project shall be carried out
and records maintained. For the purpose,
schedule of health examination of the workers should be drawn and followed
accordingly.
(xxv)
The project proponent
shall take all precautionary measures during mining operation for conservation
and protection of endangered flora and endangered fauna namely elephant, sloth bear, python etc. in the
study area fauna found in the study area. Action plan for conservation
of flora and fauna prepared shall be implemented in consultation with the State
Forest and Wildlife Department. All the safeguard measures brought out in the
Wildlife Conservation Plan prepared specific to this project site shall be
effectively implemented. Necessary allocation of funds for implementation of
the conservation plan shall be made and the funds so allocated shall be
included in the project cost. A copy of action plan shall be submitted to the
Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bhubaneswar.
(xxvi) Provision shall be made for the housing of
construction labour within the site with all
necessary infrastructure and
facilities such as
fuel for
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cooking, mobile
toilets, mobile STP, safe drinking water, medical health care, crèche etc. The
housing may be in the form of temporary structures to be removed after the
completion of the project.
(xxvii)
The
critical parameters such as RSPM (Particulate matter with size less than
10micron i.e., PM10) and NOX
in the ambient air within the
impact zone, peak particle velocity at 300m distance or within the nearest
habitation, whichever is closer shall be monitored periodically . Further,
quality of discharged water shall also be monitored [(TDS, DO, PH and Total
Suspended Solids (TSS)]. The monitored data shall be uploaded on the website of
the company as well as displayed on a display board at the project site at a
suitable location near the main gate of the Company in public domain. The
Circular No. J-20012/1/2006-IA.II(M) dated 27.05.2009 issued by Ministry of
Environment and Forests, which is available on the website of the Ministry www.envfor.nic.in
shall also be referred in this regard for its compliance.
(xxviii)
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 should 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 manganese ore and waste should be made.
(iii)
Atleast
four ambient air quality-monitoring stations should be established in the core
zone as well as in the buffer zone for RSPM (Particulate
matter with size less than 10micron i.e., PM10) and 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 [(RSPM(Particulate matter with
size less than 10micron i.e., PM10) and NOX]
should be regularly submitted to the Ministry including its Regional office
located at Bhubaneswar and the State Pollution Control Board / Central
Pollution Control Board once in six months.
(v)
Fugitive
dust emissions from all the sources should be controlled regularly. Water
spraying arrangement on haul roads, loading and unloading and at transfer
points should be provided and properly maintained.
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(vi)
Measures
should be taken for control of noise levels below 85 dBA in the work
environment. Workers engaged in operations of HEMM, etc. should 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 19th May, 1993 and 31st December, 1993 or as
amended from time to time. Oil and grease trap should be installed before discharge
of workshop effluents.
(viii)
Personnel
working in dusty areas should wear protective respiratory devices and they
should also be provided with adequate training and information on safety and
health aspects.
Occupational
health surveillance program of the workers should be undertaken periodically to
observe any contractions due to exposure to dust and take corrective measures,
if needed.
(ix)
A
separate environmental management cell with suitable qualified personnel should
be set-up under the control of a Senior Executive, who will report directly to
the Head of the Organization.
(x)
The
funds earmarked for environmental protection measures should be kept in
separate account and should not be diverted for other purpose. Year wise
expenditure should be reported to the Ministry and its Regional Office located
at Bhubaneswar.
(xi)
The
project authorities should inform to the Regional Office located at Bhubaneswar
regarding date of financial closures and final approval of the project by the
concerned authorities and the date of start of land development work.
(xii)
The
Regional Office of this Ministry located at Bhubaneswar shall monitor
compliance of the stipulated conditions. The project authorities should extend
full cooperation to the officer (s) of the Regional Office by furnishing the
requisite data / information / monitoring reports.
(xiii)
The
project proponent shall submit six monthly reports on the status of compliance
of the stipulated environmental clearance conditions including results of
monitored data (both in hard copies as well as by e-mail) to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, its Regional Office Bhubneswar, the respective Zonal
Office of Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control
Board. The proponent shall upload the status of compliance of the environmental
clearance conditions, including results of monitored data on their website and
shall update the same periodically. It shall simultaneously be sent to the
Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bhubneswar, the
respective
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Zonal Officer of Central Pollution
Control Board and the State Pollution Control Board.
(xiv)
A copy of the clearance letter shall be
sent by the proponent to concerned Panchayat, Zila Parisad/ Municipal
Corporation, Urban Local Body and the Local NGO, if any, from whom suggestions/
representations, if any, were received while processing the proposal. The
clearance letter shall also be put on the website of the Company by the
proponent.
(xv)
The
State Pollution Control Board should display a copy of the clearance letter at
the Regional office, District Industry Centre and the Collector’s office/
Tehsildar’s Office for 30 days.
(xvi) The environmental
statement for each financial year ending 31st March in Form-V as is
mandated to be submitted by the project proponent to the concerned State
Pollution Control Board as prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Rules,
1986, as amended subsequently, shall also
be put on the website of the
company along with the status of compliance of environmental clearance
conditions and shall also be sent to the respective Regional Office of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bhubneswar
by e-mail.
(xvii)
The
project authorities should 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 should be forwarded to the
Regional Office of this Ministry located at Bhubaneswar.
7. The Ministry or any other competent
authority may alter/modify the above conditions or stipulate any further
condition in the interest of environment protection.
8. Failure to comply with any of the conditions
mentioned above may result in withdrawal of this clearance and attract action
under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
9. 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 made thereunder and also any
other orders passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India/ High Court of Orissa
and any other Court of Law relating to the subject matter.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Scientist ‘F’
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Copy to:
(i)
The Secretary,
Ministry of Mines, Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
(ii)
The Secretary,
Department of Environment, Government of Orissa, Secretariat, Bhubaneswar.
(iii)
The Secretary,
Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
Bhubaneswar.
(iv)
The Secretary,
Department of Forests, Government of Orissa, Secretariat, Bhubaneswar.
(v)
The Chief Wildlife
Warden, Government of Orissa, Bhubaneswar.
(vi)
The Chairman, Central
Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex, East Arjun Nagar,
Delhi-110032.
(vii)
The Chief Conservator
of Forests, Regional Office (EZ), Ministry of Environment and Forests, A-3
Chandrashekharpur, Bhubaneshwar-751023.
(viii)
The Chairman, Orissa
State Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, A/118 Nilakantha Nagar,
Unit-VIII, Bhubaneshwar-751012.
(ix)
The Member Secretary,
Central Ground Water Authority, A2, W3 Curzon Road Barracks, K.G. Marg, New
Delhi-110001.
(x)
The District
Collector, District Sundergarh, Government of Orissa.
(xi)
EI Division, Ministry
of Environment & Forests, EI Division, New Delhi.
(xii)
Monitoring File.
(xiii)
Guard File.
(xiv)
Record File.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Scientist ‘F’