By Speed Post

 

No. J-11015/210/2010-IA.II(M)

Government of India

Ministry of Environment & Forests

 

Paryavaran Bhavan,

C.G.O. Complex, Lodi Road,

New Delhi-110003.

Telefax. 2436 2434

 

Dated the 19th August, 2010

To

 

M/s Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd.

4th Floor, D Block,

22 Camac Street,

Kolkata-700016.

 

         

Sub:  New Captive Limestone Mine of M/s Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd., Chilhati, Tehsil Masturi, District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh – Prescribing of TOR - Regarding.

 

Reference is invited to your letter no. nil dated 19.5.2010 along with the application in the prescribed format (Form-I) and a copy of the pre-feasibility report to prescribe the TORs for undertaking detailed EIA study for the purpose of obtaining environmental clearance under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006 in respect of the above mentioned project. 

 

2.       The proposal is for opening of a new mine for production of 4.0 million TPA of limestone for their cement plant having a capacity of about 2.4 million TPA located at a distance of 25 km from cement plant.  It was stated by the proponent that there are other mines also which are linked to this cement plant and the total production of limestone from all the mines put together will not exceed 4.8 million TPA.  The mine lease area is 1236.479 ha.  No forestland is involved.  No Wildlife Sanctuary / National Park is located within 10 km of the mine lease.  Life of the mine is 43 years.  Mine working will be opencast mechanized involving drilling and blasting.  A crusher will also be installed in the mine lease area.  Ultimate working depth will be 211 mRL.  Mine working will not intersect groundwater table. 

3.       It was stated by the proponent that transportation of mineral to the cement plant will be by conveyor belt.  As construction of conveyor belt will take some time therefore, during the intervening period of 3 years, the mineral transportation will be by road and thereafter, it will be totally by conveyor belt.  During the presentation it also emerged that the component of conveyor belt has neither been included in the cement plant proposal nor it has been included in the mining proposal.  The proponent categorically mentioned that they would include the conveyor belt component in the cement plant proposal and accordingly approach the Ministry for seeking modification, if any required, in the TORs already prescribed for the cement plant. 

 

4.       Based on the information contained in the documents submitted and the presentation made before the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for mining projects during its Meeting held on July 26-28, 2010, the following TORs are prescribed:-

 

(i)                A copy of the document in support of the fact that the proponent is the rightful lessee of the mine should be given. 

(ii)              All documents including approved mine plan, EIA and public hearing should be compatible with one another in terms of the mine lease area, production levels, waste generation and its management and mining technology and should be in the name of the lessee. 

(iii)            The study area will comprise of 10 km zone around the mine lease from lease periphery and the data contained in the EIA such as waste generation etc should be for the life of the mine / lease period. 

(iv)            Land use of the study area delineating forest area, agricultural land, grazing land, wildlife sanctuary and national park, migratory routes of fauna, water bodies, human settlements and other ecological features should be indicated.

(v)              Land use plan of the mine lease area should be prepared to encompass pre-operational, operational and post operational phases and submitted.   

(vi)            Location of National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Corridors, Tiger/Elephant Reserves (existing as well as proposed), if any, within 10 km of the mine lease should be clearly indicated.  A location map duly authenticated by Chief Wildlife Warden should be provided in this regard. Necessary clearance, if any, as may be applicable to such projects due to proximity of the ecologically sensitive areas as mentioned above should be obtained from the State Wildlife Department/ Chief Wildlife Warden under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and copy furnished.

(vii)          A detailed biological study for the study area [core zone and buffer zone (10 km radius of the periphery of the mine lease)] shall be carried out. Details of flora and fauna, duly authenticated, separately for core and buffer zone should be furnished based on field survey clearly indicating the Schedule of the fauna present. In case of any scheduled-I fauna found in the study area, the necessary plan for their conservation should be prepared in consultation with State Forest and Wildlife Department and details furnished. Necessary allocation of funds for implementing the same should be made as part of the project cost. 

(viii)        Impact of change of land use should be given. 

(ix)            R&R plan / compensation details for the project affected people.  While preparing the R&R plan, the National Rehabilitation & Resettlement Policy should be kept in view.  In respect of SCs / STs and other weaker sections, need based sample survey, family-wise, should be undertaken to assess their requirement and action programmes integrating the sectoral programme of line departments of the State Government. 

(x)              One season (non-monsoon) primary baseline data on ambient air quality (PM10, SO2 and NOx), water quality, noise level, soil and flora and fauna shall be collected and the AAQ data so collected presented date-wise in the EIA and EMP report.  Site-specific meteorological data should also be collected.  The location of the monitoring stations should be justified.  Date wise collected baseline AAQ data should form part of EIA and EMP report. There should be at least one monitoring station within 500 m of the mine lease in the pre-dominant downwind direction.  The mineralogical composition of PM10 particularly for free silica should be given. 

(xi)            Air quality modelling should be carried out for prediction of impact of the project on the air quality of the area. It should also take into account the impact of movement of vehicles for transportation of mineral. The details of the model used and input parameters used for modelling should be provided.  The air quality contours may be shown on a location map clearly indicating the location of the site, location of sensitive receptors, if any and the habitation.  The wind roses showing pre-dominant wind direction may also be indicated on the map.

(xii)          The water requirement for the project, its availability and source to be furnished.  A detailed water balance should also be provided.  Fresh water requirement for the project should also be indicated. 

(xiii)        Necessary clearance from the Competent Authority for drawl of requisite quantity of water for the project should be provided. 

(xiv)        Details of water conservation measures proposed to be adopted in the project should be given.

(xv)          Impact of the project on the water quality both surface and groundwater should be assessed and necessary safeguard measures, if any required should be provided.

(xvi)        Based on actual monitored data, it may clearly be shown whether working will intersect groundwater.  Necessary data and documentation in this regard may be provided.  In case the working will intersect groundwater table, a detailed hydro geological study should be undertaken and report furnished.  Necessary permission from Central Ground Water Authority for working below ground water and for pumping of ground water should also be obtained and copy furnished.

(xvii)      Details of first order stream, if any passing through lease area and modification/ diversion proposed, if any and the impact of the same on the hydrology should be brought out. 

(xviii)    Details of rainwater harvesting proposed, if any, in the project to be provided. 

(xix)        Information on site elevation, working depth, groundwater table should be provided both in AMSL and bgl.  A schematic diagram may also be provided for the same. 

(xx)          Quantity of solid waste generation to be estimated and details for its disposal and management be provided.  The quality, volumes and methodology planned for removal and utilisation (preferably concurrently) of top soil should be indicated.  Details of backfilling proposed, if any, should also be given.  It may be clearly indicated that out of the total waste generated during the mine life, the quantity to be backfilled and the quantity to be disposed off in the form of external dump (number of dumps, their height, terraces etc.).  

(xxi)        The reclamation plan, post mine land use and progressive greenbelt development plan shall be prepared in tabular form (prescribed format) and submitted.  

(xxii)      Impact on local transport infrastructure due to the project should be indicated. Projected increase in truck traffic as a result of the project in the present road network (including those outside the project area) should be worked out, indicating whether it is capable of handling the increased load.  Arrangement for improving the infrastructure, if contemplated including action to be taken by other agencies such as State Government, if any, should be covered.

(xxiii)    Details of the infrastructure facilities to be provided for the mine workers should be furnished.

(xxiv)    Conceptual post mine land use and Reclamation and Rehabilitation of mined out area (with plans and with adequate number of sections).

(xxv)      Phase-wise plan of greenbelt development, plantation and compensatory afforestation should be charted clearly indicating the area to be covered under plantation and the species to be planted.

(xxvi)    Occupational health impact of project should be anticipated and prevention measures initiated.  Details in this regard should be provided. 

(xxvii)  Occupational health impact of the project should be anticipated.  Details of pre-placement medical examination and periodical medical examination schedules should be incorporated in the EMP.

(xxviii)Measures of socio economic significance influence to the local community proposed to be provided by project proponent.  As far as possible, quantitative dimension may be given with time frame for implementation. 

(xxix)    Detailed environmental management plan to mitigate the environmental impacts which, should inter-alia also include the impact due to change of land use, due to loss of agricultural land and grazing land, if any, besides other impacts of the projects. 

(xxx)      Public hearing points raised and commitment of the project proponent on the same along with time bound action plan to implement the same should be provided. 

(xxxi)    Details of litigation pending against the project, if any, with direction /order passed by any Court of Law against the project should be given.

(xxxii)  The cost of the project (capital cost and recurring cost) as well as the cost towards implementation of EMP should clearly be spelt out.  

 

5.          Besides the above, the below mentioned general points will also to be followed:-

a) All documents to be properly referenced with index, page numbers and continuous page numbering. 

b) Where data are presented in the report especially in tables, the period in which the data were collected and the sources should be indicated. 

c)     Where the documents provided are in a language other than English, an English translation should be provided.

d)    The Questionnaire for environmental appraisal of mining projects as devised earlier by the Ministry shall also be filled and submitted.

e)     Approved mine plan along with copy of the approval letter for the proposed capacity should also be submitted. 

f)      While preparing the EIA report, the instructions for the proponents and instructions for the consultants issued by MoEF vide O.M. No. J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I) dated 4th August, 2009, which are available on the website of this Ministry should also be followed. 

 

6.       The EIA report should also include (i) surface plan of the area indicating contours of main topographic features, drainage and mining area, (ii) geological maps and sections and (iii) sections of the mine pit and external dumps, if any, clearly showing the land features of the adjoining area. 

7.       The prescribed TORs would be valid for a period of two years for submission of the EIA/EMP reports, as per the O.M. No. J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I) dated 22.3.2010.

8.       After preparing the draft EIA (as per the generic structure prescribed in Appendix-III of the EIA Notification, 2006) covering the above mentioned issues, the proponent will get the public hearing conducted and take further necessary action for obtaining environmental clearance in accordance with the procedure prescribed under the EIA Notification, 2006. 

 

 

(Dr. S.K. Aggarwal)

                                                                                                           Director

Copy to:-

 

1.       The Secretary, Department of Environment, Mantralaya Chhattisgarh, Raipur-492001.

2.       The Chairman, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, Nanak Niwas, Civil Lines, Raipur-492 001.

3.       The Chief Conservator of Forests (C), Regional Office (WZ), Ministry of Environment & Forests, Kendriya Paryavaran Bhawan, Link Road No.-3, E-5, Arera Colony, Bhopal – 462 016.

4.       Guard File.

 

 

(Dr. S.K. Aggarwal)

             Director

 

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