AGENDA ITEM NO. F. No. 8-20/2015-FC

Transcription

1 AGENDA ITEM NO. F. 8-20/2015-FC Sub: Proposal for according permission for use of ha of forest land within total forest land of 400 ha (out of total prospecting lease area of 816 ha) in Meenakshi B coal block and Dip-side of Meenakshi Coal Block located in Hemgir Tahasil in Sundargarh Forest Division of Sundargarh District of Odisha for undertaking exploratory drilling of 50 no of boreholes of 6 dia and 50 no of sumps of 20mtX20mtX0.5mt dimension ( ha each totalling ha and digging of ha each totalling 2.00 ha) by M/s Orissa Integrated Power Limited. 1. The Government of Odisha, Forest & Environment Department Bhubaneswar, forwarded a fresh proposal under Section-2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 vide his letter 10F (Cons)-177/2015/11291/F & E dated regarding Proposal for according permission for use of ha. of forest land within total forest land of 400 ha. (Out of total prospecting lease area of 816 ha.) in Meenakshi B coal Block and Dip-side of Meenakshi coal block located in Hemgir Tahasil in Sundargarh Forest Division of Sundargarh District of Odisha for undertaking exploratory drilling of 50 no. of boreholes of 6 dia and 50 no. of sumps of 20MtX20mtX0.5Mt diamantine ( ha each totalling ha. and digging of ha. each totalling 2.00 ha.) by M/s Orissa Integrated Power Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Power Finance Corporation Limited, A Government of India Undertaking). 2. Details given in the said proposal submitted by the Government of Odisha is as below: FACT SHEET 1. Name of the Proposal Proposal for according permission for use of ha of forest land within total forest land of 400 ha (out of total prospecting lease area of 816 ha) in Meenakshi B coal block and Dip-side of meenakshi coal clock located in Hemgir Tahasil in Sundargarh Forest Divisio of Sundargarh District of Odisha for undertaking exploratory drilling of 50 no of boreholes of 6 dia and 50 no of sumps of 20mtX20mtX0.5mt dimension ( ha each totalling ha and digging of ha each totaling 2.00 ha) by M/s Orissa Integrated Power Limited. 2 Location: State Odisha. District Sundergarh 3. Particular of Forests i Name of Forest Division Sundergarh

2 ii Details of Forest land and Non-forest land included in the prospecting lease iii Area of Forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting iv Legal Status of Forest land identified for prospecting 4. Details of vegetation available in the forest land Not provided ha Reserved forest Revenue forest ha Not provided proposed for diversion: i. Forest Type Group 5- Tropical Dry deciduous Forests Sub-Group 5B- Northern Tropical Dry deciduous Forests 5B-C2- Northern dry Mixed Deciduous Forests ii. iii. iv. Average crown density of vegetation Species wise local or scientific names and girth wise enumeration of trees required to be felled Working plan prescription for the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting 5. Brief note on topography and vulnerability of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting to erosion 6. Approximate distance of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting from boundary of the forest land 7. Significance of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting from wildlife point of view:- 0.5 to 0.6 Not required The topography of the block is highly undulating and rugged in nature. Area is predominantly covered with soil. Terrain slopes towards South. The central and southern parts of the area are marked by higher elevation exhibiting hillocks and ridges. The water table over the Coal Block lies at a depth between 6 & 7 m below ground level. In general, over the larger portions of the study area, the depth to water level ranges between 4 & 6 m below ground. Topography of the area has a strong bearing on the water table. All 50 bore hole points have been proposed on the forest land

3 i. Details of wildlife present in and around the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting ii. Whether forms part of National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Corridor, wildlife migration corridor etc., (if so, the details of the area the comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden to be annexed) iii. Whether any national park, Wildlife Sanctuary, biosphere reserve, tiger reserve, elephant corridor, wildlife migration corridor etc., is located within ten kilometres from boundary of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting (if so, the details of the area and comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden to be annexed) iv. Whether any national park, Wildlife Sanctuary, biosphere reserve, tiger reserve, elephant corridor, wildlife migration corridor etc., is located within one kilometre from boundary of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting (if so, the details of the area and Wildlife like Haeyana, Porcupines, barking deer, spotted deer, wild boar, Sloth bear, Small Indian civet, Monkey, Rhesus monkey, Mongoose and hare are seen, but their population is very thin. The project area is not the habitat of Elephant or part any Elephant corridor. But elephant moves occasionally in the area during paddy harvesting season. Among birds, Indian Myan, Jungle fowl, Rollers, pigeon, black drongo, common crow, Indian cuckoo, Dove parrots, etc are seen. Common reptiles and lizards like Indian cobra, common Krait, rat snakes, common garden lizards, etc are seen in the area.

4 comments of the Chief Wildlife Warden to be annexed) v. Whether any rare or endangered or unique species of flora and fauna found in the area if so details thereof 8. Whether any protected archaeological or heritage site or defence establishment or any other important monument is located in the area (if so, details thereof with noobjection certificate (NoC) from competent authority to be annexed. 9. Comment as to the reasonability of the extent of the forest land proposed to be utilised for prospecting: i. Whether the requirement of forest land as proposed by the user agency in para 6 and para 7 of the part I is unavoidable and bare minimum for the project. ii. If no, recommended area of forest land this may be used for prospecting. 10. Details of violation committed: i. Whether any work in violation of the Act or guidelines issued under the Act has been carried out (Yes/No) ii. iii. If yes, details of the violation including period of work done, area of forest land involved in violation, name, address and designation of the person (s) responsible for violation and action taken against the person (s) responsible for violation No Yes. Whether work in violation

5 is still in progress (Yes/ No) 11. Details of Compensatory Afforestation scheme: i. Legal status of the land identified to raise Afforestation ii. Details such as location, Survey or Compartment or Khasra number, area and distance from adjoining forest of each plot of non-forest area or degraded forest land identified fro Afforestation iii. Survey of India Topo sheet (s), in original in 1:50,000 scale showing non-forest or degraded forest land identified for Afforestation and adjoining forest boundaries enclosed? (Yes/ No) iv. Detailed Compensatory Afforestation scheme including species to be planted, implementing agency, time schedule, cost structure, etc., enclosed (Yes/ No) v. Certificate from the concerned Deputy Conservator of Forests regarding suitability of area identified for Afforestation and from management point of view enclosed (Yes/ No) 14. Recommendation DFO CCF Not required. No required. Not required. Not required. Recommended, (Pg 48/c) Recommended, (Pg 56/c) Nodal Officer & Addl. Recommended. (Pg 57/c)

6 PCCF State Govt. Details of User Agency Name Legal Status Recommended. (Pg 58/c) Orissa Integrated Power Limited Central PSU 3. Environment Clearance: - Mineral prospecting is exempted from having environmental clearance. 4. Cost Benefit Analysis: - Since this is not a proposal for diversion of forest land, Cost: Benefit Analysis for this exploration project is not required. 5. Rehabilitation and Resettlement: - This exploration Project does not involve displacement of human habitation. 6. The Divisional Forest Officer, Cuttack Division has furnished his Site Inspection Report (at page no. 46/c) the Net Present Value is not applicable to his Project as per provision of GoI, MoEF & CC guidelines bearing no /2009 FC dated As per provision of Ministry s guidelines dated prospecting is exempted from the requirement of submission of documentary evidence in support of Settlement of rights in accordance with provision of ST& OTFD (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 as stipulated in MoEF & CC circular dated The said letter dated 4 th July 2014 of this Ministry pertains to proposals involving prospecting of minerals in forest areas. 9. It is proposed that the proposal may be placed before the Forest Advisory Committee for their examination and appropriate recommendation.