CHAPTER VII ADDITIONAL STUDIES

Transcription

1 7.1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER VII ADDITIONAL STUDIES The proposed project is for the mining (removal/ collection of sand), from the river bed of Saraswati & Sagarmati by opencast manual method of mining. As per the EIA notification 2006, before the establishment of project public consultation, Risk assessment & social impact assessment due to project has to be addressed, which are as follows: 7.2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION Public hearing was conducted as per EIA Notification on dated , at Rajeev Gandhi Sewa Kendra, village Govindgarh, Tehsil Pisangan, District Ajmer, Rajasthan. The public hearing was chaired by ADM and Regional Officer and also attended by local peoples, during the process suggestion, objection were invited from the local people regarding the project. During the public consultation, no objection regarding the project has been received. However people are happy for the coming project as they will get employment and other facilities. Minutes of public hearing is given in below table. Issues raised by the Public 1. Shri Prakash Kumawat, Ward Punch, village Govindgarh told that, at present mines are running, but no money has been spent over the project by the project proponents. He affirmed that Govindgarh Gram Panchayat people should be allowed to keep Bajri royalty-free and also stated that the Gram Panchayat has no knowledge regarding the lease area. He proposed that the revenue from the lease should be brought for development of the village. He further stated that the farmers have received the NOC from the panchayat for the water of the well, TABLE 7.1: MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING Response/ Commitment of Project Proponents Environment management fund is submitted to the Govt. which is proposed for the development of the village. For the development of Panchayat 2% of royalty will be spent under the District Council. He told that as per the mining rules no mining can be done in the range of 45m distance from the Action Plan Constructions of washrooms and other infrastructural development in nearby villages. The removal/ collection of Bajri will be done as per approved mining plan. Fund Allotment (in Rs. Lacs) 2.0

2 which flows from the lease area to the agricultural land through pipelines. He also asked to clarify the practices undertaken in the lease area for the mining operation. 2. Shri Satyanarayan Yadav, village Govindgarh asked whether the mining area is free from grazing land or not? He also asked whether the cutting of the plantations in the area will be done according to the Contractor or the villagers. What is the solution for the negative effects of mining on water of the wells? He also apprised about the violation of rules during the transportation of Bajri and made everyone realize about the misbehavior of the lessee with the villagers. He asked about the distance between the mining areas to the wells. Finally he objected the mining and denied for the lease to be granted for Bajri. 3. Shri Jitendra Vyas villager of Govindgarh asked whether reserve of the Bajri is kept or not for the villagers to be used in future? wells. Plantation will be done in the public places according to the acceptance of the Panchayat. The mining lease has not been granted for the whole river area, mining will be done only in some selected Khasra. No grazing land is involved in this proposed project. Mining will be done as per approved mining plan. Proposed lease is for 5 Years only. Balance reserves will still be left at the end of lease period About 5000 sapling per year will be planted along the lease boundary & nearby villages. Mining will be carried out as per approved mining plan. During the course of the flow of the river in the rainy season, Bajri will get deposited Shri Surajkaran, villager of Budhwara enquired whether the mining can be done in the catchment area of river or not? He stated that NOC for the lease grant should also be received from the Gram Panchayat. He mentioned that the development amount must also be given to Gram panchayat. 5. Shri Om Prakash, Press reporter, Pisangan told that the Technical consultant says that there is no forest area in the lease area but actually it is not so. He stated that Mining is carried out with machineries not manually. He Mining will be confined in the allotted lease area only. NOC is not required from Gram Panchayat as per rules. All measures will be taken as per EMP/MP after the lease is granted. Mining will be carried out as per approved mining plan. Area is allotted by the Govt. hence, NOC is from Gram Panchayat is not required. No forest land is involved in this project. Mining will be carried out as per approved mining plan. Local people will be employed 193

3 told that this area falls under the Dark zone since last 8 years, thus doubted the possibility of upcoming heavy rainfall sufficient enough for replacement and recharge of the sand. The lease area is under M/s. Arjun Singh, and till date he has not made any efforts for the betterment of the village, no plantation has been done, no sprinkling of water and no measures have been adopted for controlling the pollution. Besides this many plants were cut in the last six months by the Lessee. Apart from this the statutory barrier of Sagarmati River has been destroyed by the Lessee. He asked about the belongings of the 857 labours presented to be employed. 6. Shri Jagpal Singh Shaktavat, Additional Sarpanch of Govindgarh said that only one pipeline should be installed for one well and the farmers must be acquainted with the land they own. 7. Shri Sharvan Singh Rawat, Village Akhepura, told that the Grazing land available where the animals graze in Akhepura should not be granted the lease, so that no problems are created in future. from nearby villages. This work of laying pipelines from well is under the PHED and is carried out accordingly with consultations of Gram Panchayat/ Local authorities. No grazing land is involved in this project. Annexure G, Written Comments is received from Om Prakash, Press Reporter, Pisangan, Ajmer 1. With the help of Japan The plants have not been cut Govt. about 44,000 plants were planted in lease area during by us as the lease is still to be allotted in our favour, only LOI 96 near the Sagarmati River, near has been given. village Nuriyawas, for the control of erosion under the Social forestry plan. The plants are being cut for the mining purpose. 2. Government has declared Pisangan under the dark zone area due to the deficiency of rainfall and low water table in this area. Then how the mining department is granting the lease considering the place under general to high rainfall If the rain would have been normal then Pisangan shouldn t have ever been declared in the Dark Zone. Mean annual rainfall ( ) of the district is mm whereas normal rainfall ( ) is lower than average rainfall and placed at About 0.8 to 1 meter of Bajri will be deposited annually. No ground water table will be intersected during mining operations. 194

4 3. The former contractor was Shri Arjun Singh only. While Pisangan Tehsildar & Mining Engineer have reported to the Government about the trees being cut in the lease area in Khasra no. 864, Nuriyawas village. The rules are not being followed by the contractor, so why no action has not been taken so far? 4. Till date Government has spent rupees 23, 87, for the surface barrier in the grazing land of Pisangan area without allocation. The Contractor has fully abolished and misused the money in the sand mining. Why the administration is not active until now? 5. The Govindgarh dam has been constructed under the Govindgarh Dam Project at Pisangan tehsil, within the Catchment area of Sagarmati River. What is reason for not accepting the order of Supreme Court to restore the situation as it was before the mid-night of ? Annexure H, Site Inspection Report from Mining Office 1. At the site (Khasra No. 864) in the lease area one pit exists measuring 79mt x 45m. Its Latitude and Longitude is N to Mining has been done in one pit 3 m below the surface by the Contractor. On site the pit was found closed. 3. Backfilling has not been done in the pits after the excavation by the contractor. Villagers told that there can be loss of life and animals due to filling of water, which is right as per the inspection. 4. Many plants have been cut near the pit area and some plants are in the damaged conditions about to fall. These plants did not cut by us. At site, this pit is old At site, this pit is old; Mining will be carried out as per approved mining plan & depth of mining will be 3 meter only. Backfilling is not proposed in this proposed project. Because the main purpose of the proposed project is removal/ collection of sand. Natural replenishment will take place during the monsoon season. These plants are not cut by us. About 5000 sapling per year will be planted along the lease boundary & nearby villages. Total

5 7.3 RISK ASSESSMENT AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN All types of industries face certain types of hazards which can disrupt normal activities abruptly, similarly River Bed Mining also has impending dangers or risk which need be addressed for which a disaster management plan has been formulated with an aim of taking precautionary steps to avert disasters and also to take such action after the disaster which limits the damage to the minimum. Nevertheless, the following natural problems may be encountered during the mining operation. 1. Increase in gradient of the river One of the most frequently occurring hazards of the river bed mining is the increase of river gradient due to haphazard mining practices. Due to selective mining in vast patches of the bed, the amount of suspended load, turbidity and velocity of the water may increase which may affect the overall behavior of the stream. 2. Water pollution The left over aggregates are fine grained particles that are lifted easily by increase of stream water velocity. Retention times of these particles are long and quality of water is affected consequently. As per proposal made under the mining plan, during proposed working the area will be developed by means of manuals opencast mining method. Exploitation and transportation of minerals are to be carried out by manual means. Water table will not be touched during processed working. No high risk accidents like landslides, subsidence flood etc. have been apprehended. But possibility of accidental disaster is also not ruled out. Therefore, all the statutory precautions should be taken for quick evacuation as per the Mines Act 1952, the Mines Rules 1955, MMR-1961 and MCDR

6 The possible risks in the case of river bed mining project are bank erosion, floods, accidents due to transportation etc. Mining and allied activities are associated with several potential hazards to both the employees and the public at large. A worker in a mine should be able to work under condition, which are adequately safe and healthy. At the same time the environmental condition should be such as not to impair his working efficiency. This is possible only when there is adequate safety in mines. Hence, safety is one of the most essential aspects of any working mine. safety of the mine and the employees will be taken care according to the mining rules & regulations, which are well defined with laid down procedure for safety, which when scrupulously followed safety is ensured not only to manpower but also to working environment Possible Risks Due to Inundation & its Control Mining will be done during the non-monsoon periods; therefore problem of inundation is not likely to happen Dewatering Depth of mine is limited to 3m depth only from the river bed level whereas the ground water flows at 20m to 25 below the bed level. Hence no dewatering is required Possible Risks Due To Failure of Pit Slope & Its Control Pit will be created of limited depth only i.e. 3m thus the chance of failure of pit slope does not exist Possible Risks Due To Failure of Waste Dump & Its Control No waste dump is created therefore the question of failure of waste dump does not exist. 197

7 7.3.5 Possible Risks Due To Fire & Its Control The operation does not anticipate any fire disaster Measures to Prevent Accidents Due to Tractors All transportation within applied mining lease working should be carried out directly under the supervision and control of the management. The vehicles will be maintained in good condition and checked thoroughly at least once a month by the competent person authorized for the purpose by the management. Road signs will be provided at each and every turning point up to the main road (wherever required). To avoid danger while reversing the equipment s/ vehicles especially at the working place / loading points, stopper should be posted to properly guide reversing/ spotting operating, otherwise no person should be there within 10 m radius of machine. A statutory provision of the fences, constant education, training etc. will go a long way in reducing the incidents of such accidents Other Possible Measures to Avoid Risks/ Disaster Due to River Bed Mining. Unwanted material including mineral or spillage (if any) should not be stacked on the banks as it will hinder the flow of water in monsoon season. Mining of minerals / working shall be started from the center from dip to rise and then laterally in 3 meter slice so that the river course could not get affected. The minerals will be mined out in a uniform way so that the river flow/ course shall not get disturbed. River banks will not be excavated to from access ramps. 198

8 Maintenance and monitoring: The area will be monitored every week by competent person and if maintenance is needed will be done as per requirement. 7.4 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, R & R ACTION PLAN There will be the positive impact on the villagers of the nearby villages in the form of employment. There is no human settlement in the applied lease area. Thus there is no impact on the human settlement and thus no R & R plan is required. ====*******==== 199