No.J-11015/470/2006-IA.II (M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O. Complex,
To,
M/s Steel Authority of
Post Office- Bolani,
District Keonjhar,
Orissa -758 037
E-mail: kjr_gmbom@sancharnet.in
Subject: Expansion of Bolani
Iron Ore Mining Project of M/s
Steel Authority of India Limited located in Village Bolani,
Tehsil Barbil Block, District Keonjhar,
Orissa -environmental clearance reg.
Sir,
This has reference to your letter No. GM/B-3440 dated 09.12.2006 and subsequent letters dated
29.01.2007 and 18.07.2007 on the subject mentioned above. The proposal is for expansion
of iron ore production from 3.44million tonnes per annum (million TPA) to
5.65million TPA. The total land area of the project is 3108.19ha,
comprising of two leases namely Lease-I of 1321.45 ha and Lease-II of 1786.74
ha involving a total of 1932.3 ha of forest land in both the Leases put
together. The Lease-I is reported to be mineralized area and Lease-II is non-mineralized area having the
tailing pond over it. Area proposed for mining is 536.85ha, an area of 25.31ha
is kept for over burden dumps, 39ha for mineral storage, 90.26ha for
infrastructure, 118.77ha for roads and railways, 216.23ha for green belt, 107ha
for tailings pond, 1.2ha for effluent treatment plant, 2.2ha for minerals
separation plant, 211.69ha for township and 1759.68ha is others(unutilized area).
The
…2/-
Block, 580m AMSL for Panposh Mining Block, 715m
AMSL for F-Mining Block and 795mAMSL for G-Mining Block. The water table varies
from 460m AMSL to 465m AMSL. Working will not intersect water table. The peak
water requirement of the project is estimated as 16872m3 per day,
which will be met from
2. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests has examined the application in accordance
with Section 12 of the EIA Notification, 2006 read with
para 2.2.1(i)(a) of the Circular No.J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I) dated
13.10.2006 and hereby accords environmental
clearance under the provisions thereof to the above mentioned Bolani Iron Ore Mining Project of M/s Steel
Authority of India Limited for a period of three years only for an annual
production capacity of 5.65million TPA
(ROM) production of iron ore by opencast mechanized method involving mining lease
area of 1321.45ha subject to implementation of the following conditions and
environmental safeguards.
A.
Specific Conditions
(i)
The project
proponent shall obtain Consent to establish from the
State Pollution Control Board, Orissa and effectively implement all the
conditions stipulated therein.
(ii)
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.
(iii)
Environmental
clearance is subject to obtaining clearance under the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 from the competent authority.
(iv)
Environmental
clearance is granted for excavation of mineral from lease-I (1321.45ha) for which mining scheme
has been approved.
(v)
The
environmental clearance is granted for a period of three years only. During the
period, the project proponent shall get both the mining leases amalgamated with
a single mine plan duly approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines and obtain a
fresh environmental clearance after amalgamation of both the leases.
…3/-
(vi)
Necessary
forestry clearance under the
(vii)
The
mining operations shall be restricted to above ground water table and it shall
not intersect groundwater table. Prior approval of the Ministry of Environment
& Forests and Central Ground Water Authority shall be obtained for mining
below water table.
(viii)
The project
proponent shall ensure that no natural watercourse and/or water resources shall
be obstructed due to any mining operations.
(ix)
The top soil,
if any, shall temporarily be stored at earmarked site only and should not be
kept unutilized for a period more than three years. The topsoil should be used
for land reclamation and plantation.
(x)
There shall be
no external over burden dumps in the F and G Mining Blocks. The entire waste
generated shall be backfilled.
(xi)
The
over burden (OB) generated from the D Ming Block and Panposh
Mining Block shall be stacked at earmarked dump site(s) only and should not be
kept active for long period. The maximum height of the dump should not exceed
12m (D-Mining Block) and 20m (Panposh
mining Block). Proper terracing of
(xii)
Catch drains
and siltation ponds of appropriate size shall be constructed to arrest silt and
sediment flows from mine working, soil,
…4/-
(xiii)
Dimension of
the retaining wall at the toe of dumps and
(xiv)
Plantation
shall be raised in an area of 791.08ha including a 7.5m wide green belt in the
safety zone around the mining lease, OB dumps, backfilled and reclaimed area ,
roads etc. by
planting the native species in
consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department. The density of the
trees should be around 2500 plants per ha.
(xv)
Regular water
sprinkling should be carried out in critical areas prone to air pollution and
having high levels of SPM and RPM such as haul road, around crushing and
screening plant, loading and unloading point and transfer points. It should be
ensured that the Ambient Air Quality parameters conform to the norms prescribed
by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.
(xvi)
Regular
monitoring of the flow rate of the springs and perennial nallah
shall be carried out and records maintained.
(i)
Regular
monitoring of water quality upstream and downstream of Panposh
nallah, Jhikaria nallah, Chapau nallah and Limtur nallah should be carried out and record of monitoring data
should be maintained and submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forests, its
Regional Office, Bhubneswar, Central Groundwater
Authority, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, State Pollution Control
Board and Central Pollution Control Board.
(xvii)
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.
(xviii)
Regular
monitoring of ground water level and quality should be carried out in and
around the mine lease by establishing a network of existing wells and
constructing new piezometers during the mining
operation. The monitoring should 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 may be sent regularly to Ministry of
Environment and Forests and its Regional Office, Bhubaneswar,
Central Ground Water Authority and Regional Director, Central Ground Water
Board.
(xix)
The project proponent shall obtain prior approval of the competent authorities for drawl of requisite quantity of water (surface water and ground water)
for the project before commencing enhanced production from the mine.
(xx)
Suitable
rainwater harvesting measures on long term basis shall be planned and
implemented in consultation with Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board.
…5/-
(xxi)
Appropriate mitigative measures should be taken to prevent pollution of
(xxii)
Mineral
handling plant 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.
(xxiii)
Vehicular
emissions should 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 vehicles should be covered with a tarpaulin and
shall not be overloaded.
(xxiv) Blasting operation should be carried out only
during the daytime. Controlled blasting should be practiced. The mitigative measures for control of ground vibrations and to
arrest fly rocks and boulders should be implemented.
(xxv)
Drills shall
either be operated with dust extractors or equipped with water injection
system.
(xxvi)
The decanted
water from the tailing pond shall be re-circulated within the mine and there
shall be zero discharge from the mine.
(xxvii)
Digital
processing of the entire lease area using remote sensing technique should be
done regularly once in three years for monitoring land use pattern and report
submitted to MOEF and its regional office.
(xxviii)
Consent to
operate should be obtained from the State Pollution Control Board prior to
start of enhanced production from the mine.
(xxix)
Sewage
treatment plant should be installed for the colony. ETP should also be provided
for workshop and wastewater generated during mining operation.
(xxx)
The project
proponent shall take all precautionary measures during mining operation for
conservation and protection of endangered fauna such as elephant, leopard,
sloth bear, ,wolf, gaur, python etc. spotted in the
study area and contribute towards the cost of implementation of the plan and/or
Regional Wildlife Management Plan for conservation of flora and fauna so
prepared by the State Government. The amount so
contributed shall be included in the project cost. A copy of action plan may be
submitted to the Ministry and its Regional Office,
(xxxi)
A
Final Mine Closure Plan along with details of Corpus Fund should be submitted
to the Ministry of Environment & Forests 5 years in advance of final mine
closure for approval.
…6/-
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 waste should be made.
(iii)
Four
ambient air quality-monitoring stations should 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, SO2 &
NOx) should be regularly submitted to the Ministry
including its Regional office located at
(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.
(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
(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.
…7/-
(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
(xi)
The
project authorities should inform to the Regional Office located at
(xii)
The
Regional Office of this Ministry located at
(xiii) The project proponent
shall submit six monthly report on the status of the
implementation of the stipulated environmental safeguards to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, its Regional Office,
(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 should display a copy of the clearance letter at the
Regional office, District Industry Centre and Collector`s office/ Tehsildar`s Office for 30 days.
(xvi) 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 Bhubaneswar.
3. The Ministry or any other competent
authority may alter/modify the above conditions or stipulate any further
condition in the interest of environment protection.
4. 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.
…8/-
5. 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.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Additional Director (S)
Copy to:
(i)
The Secretary,
Ministry of Mines, Government of
(ii)
The Secretary,
Department of Environment, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
(iii)
The Secretary,
Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
(iv)
The Secretary,
Department of Forests, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
(v)
The Chief
Wildlife Warden, Government of Orissa,
(vi)
The Chairman,
Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan,
CBD-cum-Office Complex,
(vii)
The Chief
Conservator of Forests, Regional Office (EZ), Ministry of Environment and
Forests, A-3 Chandrashekharpur, Bhubaneshwar-751023.
(viii)
The Chairman,
(ix)
The Member
Secretary, Central Ground Water Authority, A2,
(x)
The District
Collector, Keonjhar District, Orissa.
(xi)
EI Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests, EI Division,
(xii)
Monitoring
File.
(xiii)
Guard File.
(xiv)
Record File.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Additional Director (S)