Ministry of Environment & Forests
(IA Division)
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SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 4TH MEETING OF EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL OF MINING PROJECTS CONSTITUTED UNDER EIA NOTIFICATION, 2006.
The
4th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee for Environmental
Impact Assessment of Mining Projects of the Ministry of Environment and Forests
was held on 21st July, 2010 to consider the limestone mining
projects of M/s Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd. in view of the ongoing matter in
the Hon’ble Supreme Court relating to the said project. The list of participants is annexed.
After welcoming the Committee Members, consideration
of the proposal was taken up.
1.1 Limestone Opencast Mining Project at Phalangkaruh, Nogtrai,
Tehsil Sohra, District East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya of M/s Lafarge Umiam Mining
Pvt. Ltd. – Order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 26.4.2010 in the
matter of T.N. Godavarman Vs Union of India & Others in I.A Nos. 1868,
2091, 2225-2227, 2380 & 2568 & T.P. (C) No. 277/2010.
The proposal was last considered
by the EAC during its meeting held on June 28-30, 2010, wherein the Reports
relating to (i) Catchment Area Treatment Plan and (ii) Feasibility of adopting
of Surface Miner Technology were considered and the Committee’s views conveyed.
The Committee could not consider the other two Reports referred to in the order
of the Hon’ble Supreme Court namely; (i) Assessment of Flora and Fauna and (ii)
Biodiversity Conservation Plan due to their non submission by the project
proponent till that time. Subsequently,
these two Reports were submitted by the proponent and accordingly, it was
decided to convene a meeting of the EAC (Mining) to consider these
Reports. These two Reports were
circulated to all the members of the Committee.
The Reports were considered by
the Committee and the proponent made a presentation on these Reports. The proponent informed the Committee that
Forest and Environment Department, Govt. of Meghalaya vide their letter dated
12th July, 2010 addressed to the Ministry of Environment &
Forests have conveyed their recommendations for grant of formal approval under
Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 116.589 ha of
forestland for limestone mining and other ancillary activities in respect of
the said project. It was also noted that
the ‘Report on Assessment of Floral and Faunal Diversity’ has been prepared by
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, while the ‘Biodiversity Conservation Plan
for Nongtrai Limestone Mine’ has been prepared by the Govt. of Meghalaya for
which a Committee was constituted by the State Government vide their order
dated 4th June, 2010.
At the outset, it was observed
that the latitude and longitude of the mine lease as given in the EIA report
dated 6th April, 2000 are latitude 250 11’ 25’’ N &
250 12’ 00” N and longitude 910 37’ 28’’ E & 910
38’ 01” E; however, in the subsequent reports now submitted shows the latitude
and longitude as 250 11’ 49.9’’ N, 910 36’ 53.5” E, 250
11’ 48.7” N, 910 37’ 29.2” E, 250 11’ 17.4” N, 910
36’ 52.1” E and 250 11’ 16.2” N, 910 37’ 27.8”
E. To a query in this regard, the
proponent categorically stated that there is no lateral shift in the physical
location of the mine lease. The
coordinates now provided are the correct updated coordinates, while the earlier
coordinates were based on the then information given by the Department of Mines
& Geology, Government of Meghalaya. The
proponent were requested to submit their written clarification in this regard
along with the location map with coordinates.
From the study of the ‘Report on
Assessment of Floral and Faunal Diversity’, it was seen that the floristic
diversity has been worked out in greater detail as compared to the faunal
diversity study, which was also quite comprehensive, but for the gaps discussed
below.
It was observed that the habitat
is suitable for Macaques, Serow, Slowlories, Capped Languor, Himalayan Black
Bear, Hoolock Gibbon, Wild Bear, Barking Deer and Leopard. The year long four season observations with
respect to enumeration of faunal diversity, every five years, now being contemplated
in the Bio-Diversity Conservation Plan, may be able to show the occurrence of
these scheduled species, as the habitat is suitable for them.
Even, among the bird species
listed in the area, some are in the category of vulnerable species. As regards the floral component, it was noted
that a significant percentage are of economical importance having medicinal
use. The earlier report dated January,
2001 on ecological status survey of flora and fauna had reported the occurrence
of Nepenthes Khasiana, an endangered
species, which is an insectivorous plant; however, the Report now submitted did
not show its occurrence. Perhaps, it may be due to seasonal variation which may
get included once the seasonal study as stated above, is undertaken.
The Biodiversity Conservation Plan
submitted by the proponent was also considered and discussed in detail. The
estimated budget requirement is Rs 439 lakhs. The Committee desired that the proposed
Biodiversity Conservation Plan may also provide for survey of critical wildlife
habitat. The additional conservation needs as may be brought out, based on the
seasonal biodiversity survey to be undertaken, may also be integrated into the
conservation plan.
In conclusion, it was observed
that the proposed Conservation Plan, if implemented properly and a monitoring
mechanism built into it, will be able to achieve the desired results.
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Annexure
List of Participants
1.
Shri Mukunda Shenoy Nagar - Chairman
2. Dr. S. Subramaniyan - Member
3. Dr. Tushar Kant Joshi - Member
4. Shri Mihir Moitra - Member
5. Dr. S.D. Attri - Member
6. Shri S.B.S. Chauhan - Member
7. Dr. L. Ajay Kumar - Member
8. Dr. B.K. Mishra
- Member
9. Dr. S.K.
Aggarwal, Director - Member-Secretary
10. Dr. Satish C.
Garkoti, - Addl. Director
11. Shri Om
Prakash, - Dy. Director
12. Representative
of M/s Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd., Meghalaya.
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