Sr. No. Name & Designation

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1 Proceedings of 6 th combined meeting of SEIAA and SEAC held on in the Committee Room, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Vatavaran Bhawan, Nabha Road, Patiala. Following were present in the meeting: Sr. No. Name & Designation 1. Shri Darshan Singh Jaidka, H. No. 316, Urban Estate, Phase-I, Patiala 2. Shri Anil Kumar Sondhi, Flat No. 3, Tower-A, Multitech Tower, Sector-9, Mohali 3. Sh. T.S. Dhaliwal, IAS Special Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. Of Science, Technology & Environment, Punjab Civil Secretariat-2, Chandigarh 4. Sh. Kuldip Singh, IFS (Retd), House No. 2704, Sector-69, Mohali Er. Malvinder Singh, FIE, House No. 10, Gill Enclave, Near Hira Nagar, Patiala. 6. Shri Nirmal Singh Kahlon, 5-D, Passy Road, Patiala 7. Sh. Jaswinderjit Singh Sekhon, 5, Bhupoindra Road, Near YPS, Patiala Dr. Arun Kumar Yeluri, Door No /37, Meridian Enclave, Prasanth Nagar, Hdernagar, Nizampet Road, Hyderabad Dr. Akepati Sivarami Reddy, Associate Professor & Head, School of Energy & Environment, Thapar University, Patiala. 10. Dr. V.K. Singhal, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala 11. Dr. Sandeep Singh Virdi, Assistant Professor, School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala 12. Dr. Manpreet Singh Bhatti, Assistant Professor Deptt. of Botanical & Environment Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Designation Chairman (SEIAA) Member (SEIAA) Member Secretary (SEIAA) Chairman (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC) Member (SEAC)

2 13. Senior Environmental Engineer (HQ-2), Punjab Pollution Control Board, Head Office, Patiala Secretary (SEAC) At the outset, the Secretary (SEAC) welcomed the Members of the SEIAA and SEAC in its combined meeting. Thereafter, agenda items were discussed in detail as under: Item No : Regarding mentioning of details such as location, depth and date of sampling etc. of groundwater, ambient air, noise and soil monitoring in the analysis report submitted by the project proponent(s) with the application for obtaining environmental clearance under EIA notification dated The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: As per the provisions of EIA notification dated , the project proponent is required to provide details of likely impacts on environment such as on groundwater quality, ambient air quality and noise etc. For this purpose, the project proponent is required to provide background / existing groundwater quality, air quality and noise levels. The said requirement is listed at Sr. No. 12 of the check list prescribed in respect of "Building, Construction, Township and Area Development Projects". As such, project proponent submits analysis reports of groundwater, ambient air and noise monitoring analysis reports from NABL/MoEF accredited labs for the said purpose. It has been observed that groundwater, ambient air and noise monitoring analysis reports submitted by the project proponent with the environmental clearance application do not contain details such as location, depth and date of sampling etc. There is a need to define the details to be included in the field data sheet at the time of carrying & sampling and submitting the same with the environmental clearance application. Further, incremental pollution loads on the ambient air quality, noise and water quality are also required to be monitored periodically after commissioning of the project and a condition in this regard is being imposed at the time of grant of environmental clearance. Similar information is also required in such cases. 2

3 The SEIAA & SEAC also observed that paras 2.2 & 2.3 of Form I-A prescribe the following info/details to be provided by the project proponent; 2.2. What is the capacity (dependable flow or yield) of the proposed source of water? 2.3. What is the quality of water required, in case, the supply is not from a municipal source? (Provide physical, chemical, biological characteristics with class of water quality) As such, groundwater quality is also required to be monitored for the strata/aquifer to be used for supplying water for drinking/domestic purpose, in case of projects where public water supply is not available. It was further observed by the SEIAA & SEAC that background/base data sampling should cover the entire physical environment including resource and environment data and all the parameters as prescribed in IS 10500, NAAQS and Noise Rules should be monitored in respect of groundwater, ambient air and noise levels, respectively. The first aquifer sampling should be done to assess the existing groundwater quality and strata from where groundwater is to be utilized for supplying drinking water should also be monitored. Subsequent monitoring(s) i.e. post commissioning stage may be done in respect of parameters relevant to the project i.e., the parameters which are likely to be affected by the discharge from the project.. Field data sheet shall contain mandatory fields such as depth, exact location (duly marked on layout map w.r.t. project site) wind ward and lee ward directions. Field data sheet should be an integral part of the analysis report and should be submitted with the report. After detailed deliberations, the SEIAA & SEAC decided to constitute a sub-committee of the following members for prescribing the field data sheet for the above said purpose: 1. Dr. A.S. Reddy, Member (SEAC) 2. Dr. Manpreet Singh Bhatti, Member (SEAC) 3. Secretary (SEAC) 4. Environmental Engineer (SEIAA/SEAC) The field data sheet finalized by the sub-committee be uploaded on the official website of SEIAA i.e. seiaapunjab.co.in. 3

4 Item No : Regarding advance intimation to SEIAA/SEAC/ concerned Regional office of PPCB about the date of sampling of groundwater, ambient air, noise and soil to be carried out by the project proponent(s) to be submitted with the application as well as for carrying out EIA study for obtaining environmental clearance under EIA notification dated The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: As per provisions of the EIA notification dated , the project proponent is required to carry out monitoring of groundwater, ambient and noise levels from NABL/MoEF accredited Labs and submit analysis reports at the time of submission of application (Form-1, 1A & conceptual plan) in case of category 8 (a) projects of schedule-1 of the notification and at the time of submission of draft EIA study report in case of remaining projects. The periodical monitoring of groundwater, ambient air and noise levels to check the incremental pollution load after commissioning of the project is also required to be carried out by the project proponent. It is felt that there is a need to cross check/verification of sampling in the field, without carrying out any field job/ sampling. Also, the appropriateness of the sampling points is required to be checked. As such, there is a need to evolve a mechanism such as informing Punjab Pollution Control Board and SEIAA atleast 48 hours in advance, so that PPCB/SEIAA/SEAC may join the sampling team. After detailed deliberations the SEIAA & SEAC decided that intimation regarding carrying out of sampling/monitoring by the Labs for filing an application for obtaining environmental clearance, carrying out EIA study and periodical monitoring and in compliance of conditions imposed in the environmental clearance granted to the project proponent should be sent to SEIAA and concerned Regional Office of Punjab Pollution Control Board at least three days (72 hours) in advance. It was further decided that a monthly roster of 4 Members be prepared so that a team of any two Members can be deputed to cross check/verify the sampling while being done in the field. Chairman (SEAC) and 4

5 Secretary (SEAC) are authorized to decide the project for random check and to depute the two members. Item No : Regarding making provision for public/visitor parking by Educational Institutes in their premises as the vehicles are usually parked outside the premises/along the road side creating chaos/traffic congestion. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: It has been observed that many of the commercial/educational institutions/hospitals etc. do not provide adequate parking facilities inside their premises for the visitors and vehicles are parked by visitors along the road side which leads to accidents and traffic chaos / snarls / jams. The traffic jams leads to idle running of vehicles for longer durations and increased air pollution besides noise pollution due to frequent honking. As such, there is a need to ensure that the project proponents provide sufficient parking space inside their premises near the entrance for parking of vehicles of the visitors and this fact may be considered by the SEAC at the time of appraisal of the project. The SEIAA & SEAC further observed that as per para 5.3 of Form I-A, the project proponent is required to provide information as to whether the proposal will create shortage of parking space for vehicles and give details of present level of transport infrastructure and measures proposed for improvement including the traffic management at the entry & exit to the project site. After detailed deliberations the SEIAA & SEAC decided that parking for visitors/public transport should be provided by project proponent within the premises near the main gate/entrance to avoid parking along the road side outside the premises. The project proponent should also provide some security personnel to guide the visitors in this regard. It was further decided to constitute a Committee of the following members to visit and examine the existing scenario of parking arrangements available with Commercial/Educational Institutions/hospitals in the State and submit its report: 1. Sh. Jaswinderjit Singh Sekhon, Member (SEAC) 2. Sh. Malvinder Singh, Member (SEAC) 5

6 3. Sh. Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Member (SEAC) The Committee in first instance may visit Patiala-Chandigarh Road, Banur-Landran- Kharar Road, Mohali-Ropar Roads for this purpose. Item No : Regarding details about sewerage system such as connectivity and disposal arrangement where the effluent is proposed to be disposed in the sewer. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: The SEAC while observing that the certificates issued by various M.Cs allowing the project proponent to connect the project sewer line with the M.C. sewer also does not contain any such information in its 100 th meeting held on has decided that in future the certificates submitted by the project proponent regarding the permission of Local Bodies should contain the following details: (i) Existing capacity of sewer line as well as STP. (ii) Existing sewage load/volume on the branch as well as main sewer lines and on STP. (iii) Permissions already given to the various project proposals for discharging their treated wastewater into M.C. sewer. (iv) Balance capacity available with M.C. in its sewer line as well as STP to handle the additional volume of wastewater to be generated by the project under consideration. The SEAC also decided that the above decision of SEAC be uploaded on the official website of SEIAA i.e. The SEIAA in its 70 th meeting held on decided that matter be placed in the combined meeting of SEIAA and SEAC for detailed deliberations. It is felt that so much detailed information may not be available with municipal/local bodies and project proponent may face difficulty in obtaining such type of letter from local bodies. This may lead to further delay in deciding the environmental clearance applications. Moreover, the capacity of 6

7 sewer line and STP is designed by considering the density of population as permitted under zoning regulations/ Master plans of the area. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that as per para 2.13 of Form I- A, the project proponent s required to provide information regarding on site facilities to be made for the collection, treatment & safe disposal of sewerage and give details of quantities of wastewater generation, treatment capacities with technology & facilities for recycling & disposal. After detailed deliberations the SEIAA & SEAC decided that permission letter of Local Bodies should state that the concerned Local Body will take the domestic effluent of the project specifying the quantity and existing status of the sewer connectivity in the area. In the absence of availability of connectivity with the public sewer, the project proponent shall submit proposal for alternate disposal arrangements for the treated effluent. Item No : Regarding the amendment in the check list of the documents required to be submitted for Building, Construction, Township & Area Development projects. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: It has been observed that at the time of submission of application for obtaining environmental clearance, the project proponents are submitting a copy of the approved layout plan without enclosing its sanction letter, which contains certain stipulations/conditions subject to which the plan has been approved. These stipulations are necessary to be looked into while appraising the project. As such, the sanction letter issued by the Competent Authority while approving the layout plan should also be made part of the layout plan document by amending the check list of documents to be submitted with the application. It has also been observed that during various meetings, most of the project proponents raise the issue of delay in obtaining the permission from CGWA/recommendation letter from CGWB to CGWA for abstraction of groundwater resulting in delay in processing of environmental clearance cases by the SEAC. The project proponents are requesting that the SEAC may recommend the case to SEIAA on the basis of submission of application to CGWB and subject 7

8 to submission of permission from CGWA/recommendation letter from CGWB to CGWA for abstraction of groundwater to SEIAA directly. The SEIAA in its 68 th meeting held on considered the recommendations of SEAC regarding the amendment in the check list of the documents required to be submitted for Building, Construction, Township & Area Development projects, the matter be placed in the combined meeting of SEIAA & SEAC. The Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi has issued an Office Memorandum No /2008-IA.III dated , in which it has been mentioned as under: 1. Ministry of Environment & Forests vide OM dated , had constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Member, Planning Commission to review the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification (EIA), 2006, relating to granting environment clearances for roads, buildings, SEZ projects and the provisions under the OM dated related to highrise buildings. The Committee has since submitted its report to the Ministry. 2. One of the terms of reference (ToR) of the aforesaid Committee was to review the requirement of environment clearance for buildings and real estate projects to avoid duplication considering that such projects will be covered by the local civic authorities and under the provisions of the relevant master plan, building control regulations and safety regulations. The recommendation of the Committee on this ToR has been accepted and the following has been decided: i. Timelines stipulated in the EIA Notification, 2006 shall be strictly adhered to by SEIAA and SEAC while processing the proposals for TOR/EC for the building and construction projects and township and area development projects. SEAC will make appropriate recommendations within sixty days of the receipt of the complete proposal from the project proponents. SEIAA shall consider the recommendations of the SEAC and convey its decision to the applicant within forty five days of the receipt of the 8

9 recommendations. MoEF will regularly review the progress in disposal of cases by SEIAAs with the view to ensuring meeting of these timelines. ii. iii. With the view to avoiding delay in processing of proposals, project proponents should provide complete information at the first instance only while submitting documents for TOR/EC so that the processing of proposals is not held up in the absence of requisite details. Incomplete proposals not tallying with the check list should not be accepted by the SEIAA/SEAC. In order to meet the stipulated timelines, to avoid duplication of work, and to speed-up the process of scrutiny, SEIAA/SEAC may only focus on the following thrust areas of environmental sustainability while appraising the 'Building and Construction' and 'Township and Area Development' projects. a. Brief Description of the Project in terms of location and surroundings. b. Environmental Impacts on Project Land and its surrounding developments and vice-versa. c. Water Balance Chart with a view to promote waste water treatment, recycle, reuse and water conservation. d. Waste Water Treatment and its details including target standards. e. Alterations in the natural slope and drainage pattern and their environmental impacts on the surroundings. f. Ground water potential of the site and likely impacts of the project. g. Solid Waste Management during construction and post construction phases. h. Air Quality and Noise Levels; likely impacts of the project during construction and operational phases. i. Energy requirements with a view to minimize power consumption and promote use of renewal energy sources. j. Traffic Circulation System and connectivity with a view to ensure adequate parking, conflict free movements, Energy efficient Public Transport. 9

10 k. Green Belt/Green cover and the Landscape Plan. 1. Disaster/Risk Assessment and Management Plan, m. Socio Economic Impacts of the project and CSR. n. EMP during construction and operational phases. o. Any other related parameter of the project which may have any other specific impact on environmental sustainability and ecology. The SEIAA/SEAC need not focus on the other issues which are normally looked after by the concerned local bodies / State Government Departments/SPCBs. The SEIAA & SEAC were apprised about the Office Memorandum No. F.No /2014-IA-III dated issued by MoEF, New Delhi. As per the said OM, the environmental clearance granted for a project or activity under EIA notification dated , as amended, is site specific while full land acquisition may not be a pre-requisite for the consideration of the case for environmental clearance, there should be some credible document to show the status of land acquisition with respect to project site when the case is brought before the concerned EAC/SEAC for appraisal. In the said OM, the MoEF has decided that the following documents relating to acquisition of land w.r.t. the project site may be considered as adequate by EACs/SEACs at the time of appraisal of the case for environmental clearance. (i) In case the land w.r.t. the project site is proposed to be acquired through Govt. intervention, a copy of the preliminary notification issued by the concerned State Govt. regarding acquisition of land as per the provisions of Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Act, (ii) In case the land is being acquired through private negotiations with the land owners, credible document showing intent of land owners to sell the land for the proposed project. The said OM further provides that the environmental clearance granted for a project on the basis of aforesaid documents shall become invalid in case the actual land for the project site turns out to be different from the land considered at the time of appraisal of the project and mentioned in the environmental clearance. 10

11 After detailed deliberations and considering the latest Office Memorandum issued by the MoEF, as detailed above, the SEIAA & SEAC decided to amend the existing check list of documents required to be submitted with the environmental clearance in respect of 'Building Construction, Township & Area Development Projects' and finalized the same as under: 1. Properly filled Form 1 & 1A FINALIZED CHECK LIST 2. (a) In case(s) where land has already been purchased/acquired: Proof of ownership of land (b) In case where land is yet to be purchased/acquired: Proof of ownership of land (existing owner) such as copy of latest Jamabandi (not more than one month old) and credible document showing status of land acquisition w.r.t. project site as prescribed in OM dated issued by MoEF) 3. Copy of Master Plan of the area showing land use pattern of the proposed site/certificate from Competent Authority intimating land use pattern of the project site as per proposals of Master Plan of the area. 4. Layout plan duly approved by the Competent Authority/Conceptual plan of the project. 5. Topographical map of the area showing Contour Plan. In case of Area Development Projects, the Contour Plan should reflect the true existing physical features of the site and may be prepared by the project proponent w.r.t. some permanent reference marks. 6. Status of construction, if any, alongwith photographs from all the four sides meter radius map of the area from periphery of project site clearly indicating the various industries (specifically red category industries) and structures lying in the area. 8. Location plan showing the exact location of the project site w.r.t. some permanent/important features of the area and site plan of the project showing the following i) Location of STP ; ii) Solid waste storage area. iii) Green belt iv) Parking space v) RWH and water recharge pits vi) Fire fighting equipment layout vii) First aid room 11

12 viii) Location of Tubewells 9. Permission of Competent Authority for; a) Water and Sewerage connection b) Collection of Solid waste c) Use of Ground Water 10. Water balance chart for summer, rainy and winter seasons indicating critical requirements. 11. Availability of adequate land for use of treated sewage and plantation. 12. Analysis reports of ambient air, ground water and noise levels from NABL/MoEF Accredited laboratories. 13. Quantification of energy saved and renewable energy devices used. 14. Drawing showing plumbing systems for use of fresh, treated and hot water 15. Construction schedule (PERT/CPM Chart) 16. Undertaking(s) for ; a) Constitution of Environment Monitoring Cell b) Use of ready mix concrete or use of fly ash during construction. c) To provide Fire Fighting System d) To provide wind breaking curtains and water sprinkling system to minimize dust emissions during construction phase. e) To provide adequate safety measures for the construction workers during the construction phase. 17. Environmental Management Plan indicating the following: a) All mitigation measures for each item-wise activity to be undertaken during the construction, operation and the entire life cycle to minimize adverse environmental impacts as a result of the activities of the project. b) Compliance of various environmental regulations c) Steps to be taken in case of emergency such as accidents at the site including fire. d) For how long period the project proponent will be responsible for implementation of EMP and the name of the person(s) responsible for implementation of EMP. e) Capital & recurring cost for the EMP per year and the details of funds for the same. f) Name of the individual persons / organization, who will be 12

13 responsible for implementation of EMP after the lapse of the period for which the project proponent is responsible. 18. Corporate Social Responsibility indicating various activities to be undertaken, provisions of funds for the same, the period for which the same is to be implemented and the person(s) responsible for the implementation of the same. 19. Traffic Circulation System and connectivity with a view to ensure adequate parking, conflict free movements, Energy efficient Public Transport. 20. Disaster/Risk Assessment and Management Plan 21. Copy of presentation to be made before the SEAC at the time of appraisal in PDF format having size less than 25 MB. 22. Soft copy of all the documents in compliance to Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi Office Memorandum No. J /19/2012-IA-II(I) dated 31st May, 2012 having size less than 25 MB. After detailed deliberations the SEIAA & SEAC further decided that soft and hard copy of the environmental clearance application should be delivered by the project proponent to all the SEIAA and SEAC members by speed post courier or any other means immediately after filing the same with the SEIAA Secretariat. Item No : Regarding defining of the frequency of the visits required for carrying out the monitoring of the conditions imposed in the environmental clearance. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that it has been observed that there is a need to define the frequency of the visits required for carrying out the monitoring of the conditions imposed in the environmental clearance. After detailed deliberations, the SEIAA & SEAC decided that: (i) A public notice be published in the leading daily newspapers informing the project proponent(s)/general public about the requirement of obtaining environmental clearance under EIA notification dated The public notice shall also include the information about the availability of the list of projects where environmental clearance has already been granted and conditions imposed therein, which are to be complied with by the 13

14 (ii) project proponent and requirement of submission of periodical monitoring reports on the official website of SEIAA i.e. The draft public notice be prepared by the Secretariat staff in consultation with Sh. Jaswinderjit Singh Sekhon, Member (SEAC) and be circulated to all SEIAA/SEAC Members before finalizing the same. The public notice thus finalized be got approved from Chairman (SEIAA) before getting the same published in the newspapers. The website of SEIAA be upgraded to make its interface more user friendly by including search option etc. PPCB be requested in this regard as the website has been hosted and is being maintained by it. Item No : Regarding submission of presentation by project proponent(s) simultaneously with the environmental clearance application. The SEIAA & SEAC observed that: The SEAC members desired that in order to save time during the meeting and to have effective discussions as well as speedy disposal of cases, the presentation to be made by the project proponent should also be supplied to all the members of the SEAC in advance, so that they can come prepared for the meeting and raise specific queries. For this, there is a need to standardize the project specific presentation outlines and project proponent may be asked to submit hard as well as soft copies of the presentation alongwith the environmental clearance application. As such, check list of documents to be submitted with the application needs to be amended to include a copy (hard and soft) of the presentation. After detailed deliberations the SEIAA & SEAC decided that soft and hard copy of the environmental clearance application should be delivered by the project proponent to all the SEIAA and SEAC members by speed post courier or any other means immediately after filing the same with the SEIAA Secretariat. General Discussions After the formal agenda of the meeting, the SEIAA & SEAC deliberated upon the following issues: 14

15 1. It was observed that there is a need to provide a sufficiently spacious room for the Chairmen SEIAA & SEAC, where small meetings/discussions can also be held preferably located on the Chairman/Member Secretary Office Floor of Punjab Pollution Control Board building. Punjab Pollution Control Board be requested in this regard. It was decided that 2. It was observed that with the delegation of powers u/s 5 & 19 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as notified by MoEF vide notifications dated there is a need of preparation of lists and regular updation of records for effective monitoring of environmental clearance conditions of various projects. The lists are required to be prepared in respect of projects required to submit compliance report/periodic monitoring report viz-a-viz projects which have submitted the said reports and status reports in respect of projects where complaint has been filed in the Competent Court of Law etc. For this purpose, additional Engineering & ministerial staff is required to be provided to SEIAA/SEAC by the PPCB. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair. ***** 15