By Speed Post

 

No. J-11015/186/2011-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 30th April, 2012

To

 

Shri Charan Singh

S/o Dharam Pal Singh

Village Gadhi Kattiya,

Tehsil & District Ghaziabad-201102

         

 

Sub:  Collection of sand from river Yamuna of M/s Charan Singh & Others, village Subhanpur Bangar, Tehsil Baraut, District Baghpat, U.P. – Prescribing of TOR - Regarding.

 

Reference is invited to your letter no. nil dated 22nd July, 2011 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 environmental clearance for renewal of mine lease for mining of 3.6 lakh TPA of sand from the bed of river Yamuna. The mine lease area is 16.01 ha. It has been considered as Category ‘A’ because of its location within 10 km of the interstate boundary of U.P., Delhi and Haryana. Mine working will be manual and will be confined up to 3 mtr. depth and will be limited to above water table.

3.       It has been observed that the mine started operation in September, 2006 after the EIA Notification, 2006 coming into force without requisite prior environment clearance thereby violating the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The proponent have submitted Resolution passed by the Managing Committee dated 20.1.2012 that violation made as per Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 will not be repeated, which has been taken on record.

 

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 October 19-21, 2011, the following TORs are prescribed:-

 

1)           Year-wise production prior to EIA Notification, 2006 coming into force and clearly stating the highest production achieved in any one year prior to 2006.  It may also be categorically informed whether there had been any increase in production after the EIA Notification, 2006 coming into force w.r.t. the highest production achieved prior to 2006. 

2)           All documents including approved mine plan (eco friendly mine plan), EIA report 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. 

3)           All corner coordinates of the mine lease area superimposed on High Resolution Imagery/toposheet should be provided.

4)           Does the company have a well laid down Environment Policy approved by its Board of Directors? If so, it may be detailed in the EIA report. 

5)           Does the Environment Policy prescribe for standard operating process/procedures to bring into focus any infringement / deviation / violation of the environmental or forest norms / conditions? If so, it may be detailed in the EIA. 

6)           What is the hierarchical system or Administrative order of the company to deal with the environmental issues and for ensuring compliance with the EC conditions.  Details of this system may be given. 

7)           Does the company have a system of reporting of non compliances / violations of environmental norms to the Board of Directors of the company and / or shareholders or stakeholders at large?  This reporting mechanism should be detailed in the EIA report.  

8)           The terms and conditions imposed, if any, by the Competent Authority in the State Government while granting mining lease / permit / contract should be built into the mine plan (eco friendly mine plan) as well as the EIA report.  It may inter-alia include; area of working, mode of working, working shift, transportation of mineral etc.

9)           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. 

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

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

12)        Impact of the project on the wildlife in the surrounding and any other protected area and accordingly detailed mitigative measures required should be worked out with cost implications. 

13)        Detailed description of the vegetation in the RF / PF area should be given.   

14)        A study shall be got done to ascertain the impact of the mining project on wildlife of the area including on the elephant population. 

15)        Location of National Parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Corridors, Tiger/Elephant Reserves (existing as well as proposed) 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 from the Chief Wildlife Warden for operating the mine within 10 km of the National Park, if any, should also be obtained and furnished. 

16)        A detailed biological study for the study area [core zone and buffer zone (10 km radius of the periphery of the mine lease)] including the aquatic fauna / amphibians especially fresh water turtles and other nesting sites, if any, in the riverine system shall be carried out.  Avian fauna should also be covered.  The biological value on either bank of the river should also be studied and given. 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 and close monitoring 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. 

17)        Impact of the project on land use including change of river course, if any, should be brought out. The impact of the project on the adjoining agricultural fields should also be assessed and the proposed mitigation measures should be given in detail.

18)        Impact on topography, drainage, agricultural fields, cattle fields, wildlife, water logging leading to water borne diseases, if any, should also be studied and spelt out.  It may also be shown whether it will lead to change of watercourse of the river.  Modeling exercise should also be carried out through an expert agency to show the change in river flow dynamics, if any.

19)        Collection of one season (non-monsoon) primary baseline data on ambient air quality (PM10, SO2 and NOx), water quality, noise level, soil and flora and fauna.  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.  The mineralogical composition of PM10 particularly for free silica should be given.  There should be at least one AAQ monitoring station within 500 m of the mine lease in the pre-dominant downwind direction. 

20)        Air quality modeling 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 modeling 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.

21)        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 be indicated. 

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

23)        Impact of the project on the water quality should be assessed and necessary safeguard measures, if any required should be provided.

24)        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.

25)        Quantity of solid waste generation, if any, should be estimated and details for its disposal and management should be provided.

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

27)        Details of the infrastructure facilities to be provided for the mine workers.

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

29)        Occupational health impact of project should be anticipated and preventive measures initiated.  Details in this regard should be provided. 

30)        Occupational health impact of the project should be anticipated and preventive measures built in.  Details of pre-placement medical examination and periodical medical examination schedules and medical facilities proposed to be provided should be incorporated in the EMP.

31)        Measures of socio economic influence to the local community proposed to be provided by project proponent should be spelt out. As far as possible, quantitative dimension should be given.

32)        Detailed environmental management plan to mitigate the environmental impacts should be prepared and furnished. Specific safeguard measures to control PM10 as well as pollution due to transportation should be given.

33)        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. 

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

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

 

4.        Besides the above, the below mentioned general points should also be followed:-

a)    A note confirming compliance of the TOR, with cross referencing of the relevant sections / pages of the EIA report should be provided. 

b)   All documents may be properly referenced with index and continuous page numbering. 

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

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

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

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

g)   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. 

 

5.         The EIA report should also include (i) surface plan of the area indicating contours of main topographic features, drainage and mining area and (ii) geological maps and sections.

6.       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.

7.         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 (Environment), Forests and Environment Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Room No. 13, New Buildings Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow- 226 001     

2.       The Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, ‘PICUP Bhawan’ 3rd Floor, B- Block, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow – 226 020.

3.       The Chief Conservator of Forests, Regional Office (CZ), Ministry of Environment & Forests, Kendriya Bhandar, 5th Floor, Sector-H, Aliganj, Lucknow-226 020, Uttar Pradesh.

4.       Guard file.

 

(Dr. S.K. Aggarwal)

                                                                                                          Director

 

 

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