No.J-11015/49/2006-IA.II
(M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O. Complex,
To
M/s Orissa Sponge Iron Ltd.,
A/413, Sahid Nagar,
Bhubneswar
Subject: Malangtoli Iron
Sir,
This has reference to your letter No.
OSIL/Mining(Env)/2006 dated
Nil received in the Ministry on 29.02.2006 and subsequent letter dated
24.10.2006 on the subject mentioned above. It has
been noted that the proposal is for grant of
environmental clearance under the provisions of EIA Notification, 1994, for opening
of a new mine for extraction of 1.0 million tonnes
per annum (TPA) of iron ore.
The total mine lease area of the project
is 459.0ha, out of which 5.0901ha is an agricultural land, 274.5188ha is
forestland and 179.3911ha is wasteland. Area
proposed for mining is 188.74ha, an
area of 1.0ha area is kept for storage of topsoil, 9.67ha for OB dumps, 1.0ha
for mineral storage, 1.25ha for infrastructure, 4.2ha for roads, 19.6ha for
green belt and 233.54ha is others (future exploration). The applied area falls within the Elephant Habitat
Zone-II and proposed Baitarani Elephant Reserve. The
targeted production capacity of the mine is 10,00,000tonnes
per annum and life of mine is 122years. Working will be opencast by mechanized
method involving blasting. Topography of the area is undulated and hilly at an
elevation above mean sea level ranging from 930-1034m. The mine working will be
at hill top and the RL difference between foot hill and the hill top varies
from 80m to 100m. The ultimate working depth of the mine will be 24m bgl and ground water table is at 30m bgl.
Working will
not intersect groundwater table. There is
one village having no population in the core zone, therefore, displacement of
population and R&R is not involved. The water requirement
for the project is estimated as 80m3 per day, which will be obtained
from Malda nallah. Approximately 3002m3 per month of solid
waste comprising 2m3 per month
of topsoil and 1800m3 per month of
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establish
to the project on 31.01.2006 for production of 1.0million tonne
per annum of iron ore involving lease area of 459.0ha. Public hearing of the
project held on 31.10.2005. The Indian Bureau of Mines has approved mining plan
on 24.03.2005 for lease area of 459.0ha.
Capital cost of the project is Rs.2400.0Lakhs.
2. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests has examined the application in accordance
with Section 12 of the EIA Notification, 2006 read
with para 2.1.1(i) 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 Malangtoli Iron Ore
Mining Project of M/s Orissa Sponge Iron Ltd.
for an annual production capacity of 1.0million tonnes of iron ore
by opencast mechanised method involving mining lease area of 459.0ha subject to
implementation of the following conditions and environmental safeguards.
A. Specific conditions
(i)
Environmental
clearance is subject to final order of the Honble
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.
(ii)
Environmental
clearance is subject to obtaining clearance under the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972 from the competent authority.
(iii)
All
the conditions stipulated by the State Pollution Control Board in their Consent
to establish should be effectively implemented.
(iv)
The
environmental clearance is subject to grant of forestry clearance. The project
proponent shall obtain necessary forestry clearance under the
(v)
The
mining operations 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.
(vi)
The project
proponent shall ensure that no natural watercourse and/or water resources shall
be obstructed due to any mining operations.
(vii)
The top soil
should temporarily be stored at earmarked site only and should not be kept
unutilized for a period more than 3years.
The topsoil should be used for land reclamation and plantation.
(viii)
Over
burden 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 30m having 3terraces of 10m each. The over all slope of the dump shall not exceed 270. The
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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. Monitoring and
management of rehabilitated areas should continue until the vegetation becomes
self-sustaining. Compliance status should be submitted to the Ministry of
Environment & Forests and its Regional Office located at Bhubneshwar on six monthly basis.
(ix)
Catch drains
and siltation ponds of appropriate size should be constructed to arrest silt
and sediment flows from mine working, soil,
Garland
drain (size, gradient and length) shall be constructed for mine pit , soil, OB
and mineral dumps 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 should be constructed at the corners of the garland drains
and desilted at regular intervals.
(x)
Dimension of
the retaining wall at the toe of dumps and
(xi)
(xii)
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.
(xiii)
Regular
monitoring of ground water level and quality should be carried out 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, Central Ground Water Authority and Regional Director, Central
Ground Water Board.
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(xiv)
Appropriate mitigative measures should be taken to prevent pollution of
Sona nadi and Malda nadi in consultation with
the State Pollution Control Board.
(xv)
The project proponent shall
submit commitment from the competent authority for drawl of requisite quantity
of water for the project before starting work on the project.
(xvi)
Suitable
rainwater harvesting measures on long term basis shall be planned and
implemented in consultation with Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board.
(xvii)
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.
(xviii) 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.
(xix)
Drills shall
either be operated with dust extractors or equipped with water injection system.
(xx)
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.
(xxi) The project authorities should undertake sample
survey to generate data on pre-project community health status within a radius
of 1 km from proposed mine.
(xxii)
Consent to
operate should be obtained from State Pollution Control Board prior to start of
production from the mine.
(xxiii)
Sewage
treatment plant should be installed for the colony. ETP should also be provided
for workshop and wastewater generated during mining operation.
(xxiv)
The project
proponent shall take all precautionary measures during mining operation for
conservation and protection of endangered fauna namely elephant, sloth bear
etc. spotted in the study area. Action
plan for conservation of flora and fauna shall be prepared and implemented in
consultation with the
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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 within 3 months.
(xxv)
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.
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 Bhubneshwar
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.
(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.
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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 Bhubneshwar.
(xi)
The
project authorities should inform to the Regional Office located at Bhubneshwar 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 Bhubneshwar
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 report on the status of the
implementation of the stipulated environmental safeguards to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, its Regional Office, Bhubneshwar, Central Pollution
Control Board and State Pollution Control Board.
(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 Bhubneshwar.
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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.
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:
1.
Secretary,
Ministry of Mines, Government of
2.
Secretary,
Department of Environment, Government of Orissa,
Secretariat, Bhubneshwar.
3.
Secretary,
Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Orissa,
Secretariat, Bhubneshwar.
4.
Secretary,
Department of Forests, Government of Orissa,
Secretariat, Bhubneshwar.
5.
Chief Wildlife
Warden, Government of Orissa, Bhubneshwar.
6.
Chairman,
Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex,
7.
Chief
Conservator of Forests, Regional Office (EZ), Ministry of Environment and
Forests, A-3 Chandrashekharpur, Bhubaneshwar-751023.
8.
Chairman,
9.
Member
Secretary, Central Ground Water Authority, A2,
10.
District
Collector, Keonjhar District, Government of Orissa.
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11.
EI Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests, EI Division,
12.
Monitoring
File.
13.
Guard File.
14.
Record File.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Additional Director (S)