PRE-FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR FULLERS EARTH QUARRYING

Transcription

1 PRE-FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR FULLERS EARTH QUARRYING In 2-00 Acres of Patta Land Survey Number: 289/1 Kodli Village Chincholi Taluk Kalaburgi District, Karnataka By Shivakumar N Yakapur S/o. Sri. Nagashetty Yakapur Plot No. 17, 17 Ring Road Near Water Tanker, Ganesh Nagar Kalaburgi, Kalaburgi Taluk & District. KARNATAKA

2 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR C O N T E N T S Sl. No. Description Page No. 1 Executive Summary P-02 2 Introduction P-03 3 Project Description P-04 4 Site Analysis P-06 5 Planning P-08 6 Proposed Infrastructure P-10 7 Rehabilitation & Resettlement Plan P-12 8 Project Schedule & Cost Estimates P-14 9 Analysis of Proposal & Conclusions P-15 P 1

3 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 1.0 Executive Summary Owner s Name Quarry Site Area : Sri Shivakumar N Yakapur : 2-00 Acres of Patta Land Quarry Type : Open Cast Method- Semi Mechanized Material : Fullers Earth Survey No./ Plot No. : Sy. No. 289/1 Region Taluk/ Tehsil District State Status of lease : Kodli Village : Chincholi : Kalaburgi : Karnataka : New Patta Land Total Area 2-00 Acres Reserves : Type Geological (T) Mineable (T) Proved 47,166 18,735 Proposed Production : Year Saleable (T) Waste (T) First Second Third Fourth Fifth Total 12,572 1,397 Average P 2

4 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 2.0 Introduction 2.1 General: Fullers Earth, a type of clay used as an adsorbent. Fullers earth is any clay material that has capability to decolorize oil and fats or other liquid without chemical treatment. Fullers Earth is highly adsorbed clay like substance consisting of hydrated aluminium silicates used predominantly in woollen cloth, talcum powder as a filter, bonding agent in foundry sand, as a lubricant in oil and gas drilling rigs. It is also used as Multani Mitti in manufacturing face wash/ face packs. Fullers Earth typically consists of polygorskite (attapulgite) or bentonite. Fullers earth consists primarily of hydrous aluminium silicates (clay minerals) of varying composition. Common components are montmorillonite, kaolinite and attapulgite. Small amounts of other mineral may be present in fullers earth deposits, including calcite, dolomite, and quartz. In some localities earth refers to calcium bentonite, which is altered volcanic ash composed mostly of montmorillonite. 2.2 Present Proposal: Considering the abundantly available Fullers Earth source and the growing demand in the market, Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur, is proposing Quarrying of Fullers Earth in a Patta land of 2-00 acres area, in Sy. No. 289/1 of Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk, Kalaburgi district, Karnataka. The said lease is new and it is proposed to quarry, with an annual production rate of 2,514 (Avg) T/ Annum, with latest and state-of-the-art quarrying facilities. 2.3 Promoters Background: The Fullers Earth Quarrying project will be operated by Sri Shivakumar N Yakapur, who is an experienced entrepreneur from Kalaburgi District of Karnataka State. He is an expert having immense experience, in the fields of Fullers Earth quarrying and allied business. P 3

5 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 3.0 Project Description 3.1 General Fullers Earth mining is not very cumbersome unlike other stone materials. It is mined brick clay. The cost of mining depends chiefly upon the magnitude of the operations and the depth of overburden to be removed. In small mines the material is almost always removed by pick-axes and shovels, with help of scrapers. After the overburden is removed, the fullers earth dug with pickaxe and shovel and is loaded on tippers according to the quantity of material being mined. The foliated character of many of the deposits makes this work comparatively easy, as the material tends to break in block like forms, which naturally facilitates mining. The actual block splitting from the sheet rocks or boulders is mainly done manually or in some cases by semi- mechanized methods, whereas the other operations, such as removal of overburden, lifting and transporting of cut blocks, etc. are carried out by mechanized method. The various activities involved in Fullers Earth quarrying are briefed below: 3.2 Method of Quarrying The proposed method of quarrying to be practiced at the Fullers Earth quarry is of OPEN CAST method, by semi-mechanized way. However, care has to be taken to make it environmental friendly by constantly adopting suitable mining techniques. The quarrying will be carried-out by deploying machineries like Excavators, Tippers etc. 3.3 Mining The said quarry is New; quarrying shall be done by semi mechanized method in Patta Land. The quarry has the approach roads, drivable in all seasons of the year. Production & development shall be carried with systematic and scientific approach. The salient features are given in Table below: P 4

6 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR Sl. No. Items Proposed 1. Mineable Material Fullers Earth 2. Method of Mining Open Cast Semi Mechanized 3. Mineable Reserves Type Geological (T) Mineable (T) Proved 47,166 18, Production Year Saleable (T) Waste (T) First Second Third Fourth Fifth Total 12,572 1,397 Average Cost of the Project 4 Lakhs 6. Manpower Required 29 Persons (Total) 7. Water Requirement 290 Liter/Day for drinking 2,250 L/d for dust suppression P 5

7 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 4.0 Site Analysis 4.1 Location of Site Fullers Earth Quarry is located over an area of 2-00 Acres in Patta land bearing Sy. No. 289/1 of Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk, Kalaburgi district, Karnataka. Site Details District & State Taluk Village Kalaburgi District, Karnataka Chincholi Sulepeth Sy No. / Plot No / Block 289/1 Quarry Lease Area (proposed) Type of the Area 2-00 Acres Patta Land Survey of India Toposheet No. 56 G/3 Point No. Latitude Longitude A N E B N E C N E D N E Accessibility The area is situated at 3.00 km N of Kodli village & 30 km from Chincholi where all the welfare amenities are available. The nearest railway station is Chincholi at a distance of 14 Km. P 6

8 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 4.3 Physiographic Features: The physiographic of the area is a part of flat undulated terrain slightly sloping towards South Eastern side in 1 in 40 m. The area is having very less number of bushes and shrubs on South-Western side. the height is little less and on NE side, the height is more comparatively. Except this physiography of the area is uniform. The lowest level observed in the area is about 99.4 RL and maximum level is about 101 RL on the surface. The applied area is located at the elevation of about 480 to mts above the MSL. 4.4 Land-Use Planning The proposed quarry area is Patta land. It is barren and the fullers earth is available at a shallow depth of 1 to 1.5m. The land-use pattern (present and at the end of the scheme period) is as below: Type of Activity Area put on use at the start of the plan In Ha. Area at the end of plan period of 5 th year Ha. Area under mining Buffer Zone Overburden dump(mobile Dump) Mineral Stock yard Infrastructure (Office, Workshop etc.) Roads Virgin Area Top Soil Storage TOTAL P 7

9 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 5.0 Planning 5.1 General Mining shall be carried out in a descending order from top to bottom. The mining operations were being carried out all along the strike length of the mining lease area. The area is found to have prominent exposures of Fullers Earth deposit in the entire area. The Fullers Earth is a clay material composed of hydrous aluminum silicates (clay minerals) of varying composition. Common components aremontmorillonite, kaolinite and attapulgite. Small amounts of other minerals may be present in fuller's earth deposits, including calcite, dolomite, and quartz. 5.2 Present Status of the Area: The quarry lease has been newly sanctioned. The area will be developed by forming benches to work the area systematically as per KMMC Rules, The details of working dump yards, roads are as shown map in the quarry plan. 5.3 Proposed year wise Development and Production (in Tons): The development and production programme is confined to the entire area for the first 5 years. The scheme has been planned by taking into consideration of the nature of the deposit within the sanctioned area. It is observed that the sheet rocks are exposed in the neighboring quarries. The proposed year-wise working plan is furnished below: Year Saleable in T Waste in T 1 st Year nd Year rd Year th Year th Year Total 12,572 1,397 Average P 8

10 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 5.4 Anticipated Life of the Mine For the proposed quarry, the details estimated geological and mineable reserves are given below: Sl. No. Type Geological (T) Mineable (T) 1 Proved 47,166 18,735 Average Annual Production (Tons/ Year) 2,514.4 After completion of the proposed exploration, the reserves will be updated and re-estimated. 5.5 Extent of Mechanization The mine is proposed to produce 2,514 (Avg) T/year of Fullers Earth and 279 (Avg) Tons of waste/annum. The machineries required to achieve the proposed production level are listed below: Table Requirement of Mining Machineries Sl. No. Machineries Nos. 1. Water Tanker 1 2. Tippers 2 3. JCB 2 4. J S Tractor trawler 2 Total 9 P 9

11 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 6.0 Proposed Infrastructure 6.1 General To carry-out quarrying of Fullers Earth, various infrastructural facilities are required for the main activity as well as for environmental protection & pollution prevention. The basic infrastructural facilities that are required for the proposed quantity of quarrying are described below. 6.2 Site Services: Statutory buildings like office building, rest shelters etc. shall be constructed in a semi-permanent construction using brick walls and tin sheet roofing. Drinking water will be provided in well-maintained tank near to the rest shelter. 6.3 Facilities for Environmental Management Generally Fullers Earth quarrying is expected to cause air pollution leading to breathing problems. Activities like movement of vehicles generate dust and aggravate air pollution in addition to noise pollution Since the proposed Fullers Earth quarrying activity is semi-mechanized, with the usage excavator etc., the air pollution is minimized to acceptable limits by strictly following the guidelines promulgated like using water sprinkling during summer, proper maintenance schedules, etc. For mitigating the adverse impacts of the above, suitable control measures are planned, which are more detailed in the enclosed Environmental Management Plan. For activities like drilling, dust suppression etc. water will be required. Also, for meeting the drinking and sanitary needs of the employees/ workers, water will be required. To take care of the occupational health and safety of workers at site, engaged at strategic locations/dust generation points like loading and unloading points, dust masks would be provided. Dust masks would prevent inhalation of Respirable Particulate Matter (RPM) thereby reducing the risk of lung P 10

12 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR diseases and other respiratory disorders. Regular health monitoring of workers will be carried out. There will not be any kind of solid waste likely to be generated from the proposed activity. Most of the area is of Fullers Earth and the present proposed working is confined to Fullers Earth. Less than 10% of materials are being treated as waste in this area. The rejected waste material is stacked in the Waste Dump as shown in the Mining Plan. A JCB will used to remove the over burden from the surface. When the dump reaches optimum height, suitable greenery will be grown on this dump to stabilize them. In addition, as a proactive measure, the following activities will be initiated: The rainwater accumulating in the work area will be collected and will be drained-out to the downstream properly with guide drains, so that it can be used by the downstream fields for their agriculture and allied purposes. To avoid soil erosion, rain water entering into the mine pit, carryover of the material with rain water, suitable garland drains will be provided all along the active mine area. P 11

13 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 7.0 Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R & R) Plan 7.1 General The proposed Fullers Earth quarrying area, is located near Kodli Village of Chincholi Taluk in Kalaburgi District of Karnataka State. The proposed site is at about 3 km from the nearest human habitation i.e. Kodli village. In the core area, there are no houses/ hutments etc. Hence the R & R Plan for the proposed quarry site is limited to the environmental protection and other social measures planned, as part of the proposed activity. 7.2 Human Settlements There is no human settlement in the core zone 7.3 Socio-Economic Benefits Spurt in industrialization and mining activities have invariably brought a drastic change in the environment including the society connected with region. Mostly remote areas tucked away from urbanization and influence of modern civilization fall within the limits of mine development. A natural corollary to this the socio economic aspects of the local inhabitants who have dwelling this region for generations, get suddenly and probably a radical change, consequent to their abrupt exposure to the mining. The local people will get employment opportunities, better medical and educational facilities etc., mainly due to the mining operation from this project. In addition to this the literacy rate and better living standards shall increase due to the enhanced earning capacity of villagers. 7.4 Storage and Preservation of Topsoil In thid area the top soil will be stored separately in the waste dumping yard. In 2 nd year onwards the top soil will be back-filled in dug-out pits after dumping hard soil and waste material. The details of the top soil, waste during development and production and its management are given in Annexure-II. P 12

14 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 7.5 Reclamation of land Land restoration or reclamation of the area is very essential in any mining industry. Proper measures adopted during restoration will control most of the adverse environmental impacts of mining and also improve the aesthetic beauty of the area. Due to the Mining activities in this area, the profile of the ground will change due to formation of pits. At the end of the mining operations, separately stacked top soil will be used to spread over on the compacted back filled area in order to facilitate the re-vegetation process, which in turn controls silt flow towards the downstream. 7.6 Environmental Aspects: The environmental aspects associated with the proposed activity, along with the suggested mitigation/ control measures are more clearly elaborated in the Environmental Management Plan. 7.7 Implementation of EMP & Monitoring Programme The environmental management plan is detailed on the basis of impact assessment. Control and mitigation measures for the adverse impacts envisaged. As the major environmental attributes have been confined to the project area alone, implementations of the proposed control measures and monitoring thereof will be undertaken on the regional basis. The Fullers Earth Quarry will ensure the implementation of the measures within the mine area and carryout efficient monitoring. In order to implement the measures suggested for mitigating the adverse impacts on the environment, it is suggested to monitor the environmental parameters regularly. P 13

15 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 8.0 Project Schedule & Cost Estimates 8.1 General Any developmental activity needs to have adequate resources, be in the form of man-power or machinery. Careful planning and timely deployment adequate funds to have the required resources, is of paramount importance for any successful project implementation. In the following paras, it is explained about the mobilization schedule of resources and the capital expenditure estimates. 8.2 Mobilization Schedule The proposed quarry, being an operating quarry, doesn t need elaborative planning for mobilization of man-power, machinery & equipment etc. 8.3 Cost of the Project: Considering the fluctuating export market scenario and present domestic market conditions of the products, the cost of the project estimated to be around 4 Lakhs, with the concept of outsourcing some of the machineries. P 14

16 SHIVAKUMAR N YAKAPUR 9.0 Analysis of Proposal & Conclusions: This upcoming project will meet the development needs of the surrounding community without causing any negative influence on the environment. It can be summarized that the development of Fullers Earth Mining will have a positive impact on the socio-economics of the area and lead to overall sustainable development of the region. P 15

17 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FULLERS EARTH QUARRYING IN A PATTA LAND OF 2-00 ACRES At Sy. No. 289/1 Kodli Village Chincholi Taluk, Kalaburgi District Karnataka By Shivakumar N Yakapur S/o. Sri. Nagashetty Yakapur Plot No. 17, 17 Ring Road Near Water Tanker, Ganesh Nagar Kalaburgi, Kalaburgi Taluk & District. KARNATAKA

18 Chapter No. C O N T E N T S Chapter Title Page No. 1 Introduction E-01 2 Project Details E-04 3 Environmental Conditions E-07 4 Environmental Management Plan E-09 5 Disaster Management Plan E-19

19 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur is proposing a Fullers Earth Quarry, in an area of 2-00 Acre of Patta Land bearing Sy. No. 289/1 of Kodli Village in Chincholi Taluk of Kalaburgi District, in the state of Karnataka. The above said quarry is new & it is proposed to quarry about 2,514 (Avg.) Tons/ Annum of Fullers Earth from the quarry. In accordance with the Office Memorandum No. L-11011/47/2011-IA.II(M) dated 18 th May 2012, issued by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India and the EIA Notification 2006, Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur, has submitted the Form-I along with Pre-Feasibility Report, Approved Mining Plan (by Dept. of Mines & Geology, Govt. of Karnataka), Land Documents, etc. to State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka for issuing Environmental Clearance for the above quarrying activity. Further to the above, Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur has prepared an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the above Fullers Earth quarry and intends to submit to SEIAA, for issuance of Environmental Clearance. 1.2 LOCATION OF THE PROJECT The above said Fullers Earth quarry, is part of a Patta Land bearing Sy. No. 289/1, in an extent of 2-00 Acre. The above land, belongs to Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk, in Kalaburgi District. 1.3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROJECT The present project of Fullers Earth quarrying in a Patta Land having an extent of 2-00 Acre with a capacity of 2,514 (Avg.) Tons/ Annum. The location of the quarry is near to Kodli village in Chincholi Taluk of Kalaburgi District. It has got a good connectivity to Kalaburgi, from where it can lead to other important places of the state. Further the Proponent has chosen to adopt semi mechanized quarrying, an already proven environment friendly process, which will be a safe bet on the investment as well as the returns on the investment, with due care for environmental protection & pollution prevention. E 1

20 1.4 ADMINISTRATIVE & LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND As per the latest Office Memorandum No. L-11011/47/2011-IA.II(M) dated 18 th May 2012 issued by Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India and the EIA Notification of the MoEF dated (amended in 2009), any new Mining or Quarrying activity shall not be undertaken in any part of India unless it is accorded environmental clearance by the concerned State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), in accordance with the procedures specified in this Notification. As per the procedure, all quarries or mining of minor minerals proposals with an extent of less than 5 Hectares of activity area, in any part of India or expansion or modernization of any existing mine/ quarry, shall apply in prescribed Form, along with necessary documentation like Pre-Feasibility Report, Approved Mining Plan, Location Map, Land documents, Environmental Management Plan (EMP) etc.. Accordingly, this EMP for the proposed quarrying activities of Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur has been prepared for the perusal of SEIAA/ SEAC. 1.5 EMP FORMAT The present report is based on compilation of the secondary data available for the proposed project site & its surroundings, a description of the production process, preparation of environment management plan and disaster management plan. The contents of the report have been organized in following Five (05) chapters: Chapter-1 - Introduction This chapter provides background information of the project, brief description of the area, significance of the project and format of the report. Chapter-2 - Project Details This chapter deals with the proposed quarry location, machinery used for quarrying, infrastructure requirements etc. Chapter-3 : Environmental Conditions In this chapter, the climatological conditions of the proposed area, present environmental conditions in close proximity etc. are presented. Chapter-4: Environment Management Plan (EMP) E 2

21 This chapter provides environment management plan aimed at minimising the adverse environmental impacts due to proposed activity. The impacts along with the mitigative/ control measures are elaborated. The Monitoring programme of various environmental attributes has also been included. Chapter-5 : Risk Assessment and Disaster Management Plan This chapter deals with possible hazards associated with the proposed activity. This also includes the proposed mitigation measures for the identified hazards. E 3

22 CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DETAILS 2.0 INTRODUCTION Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur is proposing a Fullers Earth Quarry for extraction of Fullers Earth cater to the demands of market. The said Quarry is New and the Fullers Earth quarry is spread over an extent of 2-00 Acre in a Patta Land bearing Sy. No. 289/1, Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk, Kalaburgi District, in the state of Karnataka. 2.1 PROJECT SITE DETAILS v Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur is Proposing a Fullers Earth quarry lease in an area of 2-00 Acre land, which comprises of hard rocky patch. v The geographical details of the quarry site are as under: Point Latitude Longitude A N E B N E C N E D N E v Details of the surrounding environmental features are given under Chapter DETAILS ABOUT THE PROJECT Cost of the Project: The total cost of the Fullers Earth quarrying activity is estimated as Rs Lakhs, of which approx. Rs. 40,000 is towards the pollution control and environmental management. Most of the mechanical equipment are outsourced Raw Materials Requirement The proposed activity itself is quarrying of Fullers Earth, which will be the raw material for subsequent activities. Hence, there is no requirement of any other raw materials Description of the Process: In the above mentioned Patta Land (Sy. No. 289/1 of Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk & Kalaburgi District, Karnataka State), quarrying of Fullers Earth is being carried-out by open cast semi mechanized method. To achieve the required level of Fullers Earth production, it requires 2 Tractor trawler, 2 J S 200, 1 Water Tanker, 2 JCB, 2 Tippers. Transportation of quarried material will be E 4

23 made through hired trucks to the dispatching points. The flow diagram of various activities involved in the quarrying of Fullers Earth is shown below: QUARRY Excavation LOADING TRANSPORT Excavation: Excavation of the clay will be carried out by an excavator. Loading: Loading will be done by using a JCB by skilled laborers into the trucks. Transport: Transportation of the product within the quarry area will be done by using tractors, tippers etc. The quarry waste and other over burden will be transported to the waste dumping yard by using trucks/ tippers. Transportation is carried out by hired trucks Water requirement Water will be required to meet the drinking and sanitation needs of employees and visitors and for dust suppression along the haulage road. The estimated water requirement for the proposed quarry will be about 290 liters/ day for drinking and sanitation requirements and about 2,250 litres/day for other purposes like dust suppression etc., which will be met from tankers purchased locally Power There is no requirement of any electric power, except for lighting. However, there is no power connectivity, in the nearby area. Hence provision has been made for a 20 KVA DG Set for meeting lighting power requirements Manpower The total manpower requirement during the operational phase of the above quarry will be 29 personnel including personnel at all levels. Local people will be employed to the maximum extent possible for skilled and unskilled categories. E 5

24 3.0 General: CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The above Fullers Earth Quarry site is a part of the Patta Land, bearing Sy. No. 289/1 of Kodli Village, Chincholi Taluk & Kalaburgi District, Karnataka State. The total extent of the quarry is about 2-00 Acre. 3.2 Meteorological Information The temperatures starts rising from January to peak in May, the hottest month with a maximum temperature of 45 o C. Thereafter it declines during the monsoon period. December is the coldest month with the temperature dipping down to 22 0 C. The average Rainfall is about 717 mm. The climate history of Kalaburgi is summarized in the table below: Climatological Conditions Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec Temperature (in o C) Record High Average High Average Low Record Low Precipitation (in mm) Average Rainy Days Humidity Source: E 6

25 3.4 Surrounding Environmental Features: Sl. Particulars No. 1 Climatic Conditions Annual Max. Temp: Annual Min. Temp: Annual Total Rainfall: Details 45 o C 22 o C 717 mm (Kalaburgi District) 731 mm (Chincholi Taluk) 2 Nearest Human Habitation Kodli 3 KM towards E 3 Nearest Major railway station Chincholi -30 Km 4 Nearest Town Chincholi 30 KM 5 Nearby Water Bodies Maramuri N 1.5 Km towards N Streams to Maramuri N 250m towards N Benithora River 7.75 Km towards S-SW Unnamed Streams 30m, 350m & 800 towards W & E 6 Other Features Rocky boulders, rocky knobs, sheet rocks etc. 7 Forest Areas Kodli RF 300m towards E Sugar RF 850m towards W-SW Allahpur RF 5 Km towards E-NE Kodli Gudda RF 3.8 Km towards E 8 Historical places None within 10 km 9 Defense Installations None within 10 km 10 Critically Polluted Areas None within 10 km E 7

26 4.1 General: CHAPTER 4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN Extracting of Fullers Earth from the earth is an arduous endeavor that affects the local ecosystem and community on a number of levels. At times, quarry operations modify the landscape and topography, and require significant quantities of water and energy. Additionally, potential occupational health and safety risks exist for quarry employees and local residents may experience noise and vibrations. The Fullers Earth quarrying activities, are not supposed to have several environmental impacts. Also, the activities like blasting, cutting etc. are completely avoided. However, the truck traffic contribute to noise, and dust problems for local residents. Responsible site maintenance, however, can make a remarkable difference in the magnitude of these impacts as well as the financial burdens that may be attached to them. The mining development in the study area needs to be intertwined with judicious utilization of natural resources within the limits of permissible assimilative capacity. The assimilative capacity of the study area is the maximum amount of pollution load that can be discharged in the environment without affecting the designated use and is governed by dilution, dispersion and removal due to natural physico-chemical and biological processes. The Environment Management Plan (EMP) is required to ensure sustainable development in the study area. For attaining the desired objective of good environmental quality in the quarry area, several management strategies in different phases are proposed and evaluated. Planned improvements including additional control measures Measures to alleviate problems affecting villages near mining area Planning for the closure of mines This section discusses the management plan for mitigation/abatement of impacts and enhancement of beneficial impacts due to mining. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been designed within the framework of various Indian legislative and regulatory requirements on environmental and socio-economic aspects. E 8

27 Environmental problems in Fullers Earth are not as complicated as any other opencast mining operations. The general degradation of land due to unscientific and selective mining is a common feature. The Environmental Management Plan is presented in three parts, viz., EMP before the Start/Re-start of quarrying activity, EMP during the operation of the quarry and EMP at the closure stage of the Quarry The proposed environmental protection measures, at each of the above stages to meet the stipulated norms are detailed below: 4.2 Environmental Management Plan before the Start/Re-Start of Quarrying Activity: Before start/re-start of the proposed quarrying activity, it is suggested to initiate the following activities, as a pre-cautionary measure for safeguarding the various aspects of the environment Land Environment Management: It is necessary that while preparing the quarry working layout, optimum land area should be considered, with requirements for material movement logistics and also leaving the buffer/ safety zone, as per the legislative requirements. There is a scope for beautification of the land area within the quarry premises by planting trees, to improve the aesthetics of the area and also to reduce the pollution outside the activity area. These aspects are taken due care while preparing the Quarry Plan, which is approved by the Concerned Government Department i.e. Department of Mines & Geology, Government of Karnataka Green Belt Development: Plants act as natural sink for variety of air pollutants. These can help to reduce the pollutant level in the air environment. Locally suitable species shall be selected for developing the greenery in the quarry area, wherever possible. E 9

28 4.2.3 Water Environment Management: During the pre-quarrying stage, adequate arrangements shall be made for meeting the water requirements of the proposed activity, by way of identifying a suitable and reliable source of water. For the storm water management, all above ground quarries shall be provided with garland drain with a check-dam to prevent the washing away of silt. This drain shall be cleaned periodically (at least once in a year). In case of below-ground quarries, suitable arrangements (in the form of dewatering pumps, DG set etc.) shall be made to dewater the accumulated water in the quarry pit Air Environment Management: The proposed quarrying activity doesn t require elaborative air pollution control measures, at the pre-quarrying stage. However greenery development will be a positive step towards the air environment management Site Security: Adequate security arrangements shall be made to ensure that the local inhabitants and the stray cattle are not exposed to the potentials hazards of the quarrying activities. Fencing will be done, before starting the Quarrying Activity, along the lease boundary with barbed wire, planting with Euphorbia and Curcus cuttings, to restrict the entry of unauthorized persons and other animals into quarry area Noise Emission Control: The proposed quarrying activity doesn t require elaborative noise control measures, at the pre-quarrying stage, which can be taken care during the operation of the quarry. 4.3 Environmental Management Plan During the Operational Phase of the Quarry: During the operational stage of any quarry, it is expected to cause certain pollution on various aspects of the environment. To mitigate such problems, the proposed environmental protection measures are given below: E 10

29 4.3.1 Air Quality Management Generally Fullers Earth quarrying is expected to cause air pollution leading to breathing problems. Activities like movement of vehicles generate dust and aggravate air pollution in addition to noise pollution. Since the proposed Fullers Earth quarrying activity is semi-mechanized, with the usage excavator etc., the air pollution is minimized to acceptable limits by strictly following the guidelines promulgated like using water sprinkling during summer, proper maintenance schedules, etc.. However, movement of heavy machinery and trucks using diesel are expected to cause air pollution and noise pollution. The following measures are proposed to reduce the impact of these, to the extent possible: Frequent watering of the haulage road to prevent dust emission due to the movement of machinery and vehicles All haulage roads shall be maintained regularly. Vehicles moving in the activity area shall comply with the prescribed emission norms to reduce the CO & NOx concentrations Proper preventive maintenance to reduce emissions Unnecessary idling of the vehicles and machinery will be completely avoided. In addition to the above, from the point of view of maintenance of an acceptable ambient air quality in the region, it is desirable that air quality should be monitored on a regular basis to check the compliance with the standards prescribed by CPCB and in cases of non-compliance, appropriate Mitigative measures shall be adopted Noise Pollution Control In an operational mine, major noise sources are operation of mine machineries and equipment, and movement of vehicles, DG Sets etc. Noise generation may be for an instant, intermittent or continuous periods, with low to high decibels. Periodic inspection and checks of the risk prone areas and equipment have to be conducted. The following measures shall be undertaken: Acoustic enclosures, hoods, etc. shall be provided in noise generating areas to the extent possible so that the sound levels in working areas are restricted below 85 db E 11

30 (A) for 8 hours duty. This shall be regulated before engaging the equipment or purchase of the same. Provisions of rotation of workers to minimize exposure time as well as provision of earmuffs to workers exposed to high noise areas are also envisaged. Green belt development shall be undertaken around the lease area to minimize propagation of noise. The ambient noise level monitoring shall be carried out in and around the proposed mine, at regular intervals. The equipments and machines should be maintained properly. Ear muffs or other protective devices should be provided to the staff working in high noise prone areas. Unnecessary idling of vehicles and mining equipment shall be avoided Water Pollution Control Measures Generally, Fullers Earth quarrying activities are not expected to cause any major water pollution, unlike other mining activities. However, as a proactive measure, the following activities will be initiated, as explained in above: The rainwater accumulating in the work area will be collected and will be drained-out to the downstream properly with guide drains, so that it can be used by the downstream fields for their agriculture and allied purposes. To avoid soil erosion, rain water entering into the mine pit, carry-over of the material with rain water, suitable garland drains will be provided all along the active mine area Solid Waste Management Solid waste will be only basalt kankar, which is estimated over an thickness of 2m overlying the fullers earth. The basalt kankar will be removed and will be stored in designated dump yard for the first year. For the simultaneous years, the solid waste (basalt kankar) will be used for refilling of the last year quarry pits. E 12

31 4.3.5 Plantation Programme Under plantation programme, it is suggested to develop green belt all along approach road to the quarry lease, along the boundary of mine lease area and in the vacant spots, to the extent possible. The implementation of the development of green belt around the activity area will be of paramount importance as it will not only add up as an aesthetic feature, but also act as a pollution sink. But space limitation will be a major constraint, because of the fact that major portion of the area will be hard rock, where tree plantation is not possible. However, the following facts shall be considered for greenbelt development, in the vacant spots, wherever it is possible to take-up the plantation works: The species to be grown in the areas should be dust tolerant and fast growing species so that a permanent green belt is created. Apart from the green belts and aesthetic plantation for eliminating fugitive emissions and noise control, all other massive plantation efforts shall be decided and executed with the assistance and co-operation of the local community. The plantation of any of the above or combination of the above will be decided in consultation with the local forest authorities and community. In this area regular watering is required to improve the survival rate. However, the practice of afforestation programme and other control measures shall bring greenery to the area and also the vegetation of mixed species and availability of green cover shall prompt the migration of birds and wild life from surrounding places. Plants Species to be planted in the Surrounding Areas: 1. Thespesia pinnata (BUGARI) 2. Butea monosperma (MUTTHAGADA) 3. Madhuca indica (HIPPE) 4. Azadirachta Indica (BEVU), 5. Pongamia pinnata (HONGE) 6. Tamarindous Indica (HUNASE) 7. Ficus benghalensis (ALADA MARA) 8. Hardwickia binata (ANJANA),, & other local timber and bio-fuel yielding species. E 13

32 4.3.6 Storage and Preservation of Topsoil There is little soil cover occurring, with a thickness of 1-1.5m. Wherever the topsoil generated, shall be collected and stacked separately for use in afforestation. 4.4 Environmental Management Plan During the Closure Stage of the Quarry: The intent of mine closure and rehabilitation is to return the land to as close as is reasonably possible to its pre-disturbance condition, suitable for use by Traditional Owners and as habitat for flora and fauna. The Quarry Closure is divided into two stages viz. Progressive Closure Plan and Final Closure Plan. Generally, the Progressive Closure Plan will be the part of the approved quarry plan and hence not elaborated here. Final decommissioning and rehabilitation activities associated with the quarry closure include the following: Removal of all infrastructure no longer required at the site. Final site tidy up. Ongoing monitoring and assessment of post-closure rehabilitation. The proposed process for the final decommissioning for each of the domains is discussed below. This is a conceptual process at this stage; it will be refined during closure planning during the life of the quarry Site Infrastructure In general the process for final decommissioning of site infrastructure will be as follows: Infrastructure will be removed from site and sold. Concrete pads will be broken up and either disposed of on site, used as clean landfill in areas of existing disturbance where the landform is amenable to filing, or transported off site for disposal in an appropriate clean fill facility. Topsoil will be spread. The area will be ripped and seeded Office, Rest Shelter and Stores Area The sheds installed for locating the office, spares parts storage, rest shelter for employees etc. will be handed over to the local people, for using as an accommodation for the farmers who will be cultivating the surrounding land. E 14

33 4.4.3 Hard Rock Pits These pits will be progressively backfilled and rehabilitated after the year of completion. The end land use for the completely backfilled pit areas will be a modified landform with landscape function and vegetation that is resilient, self-sustaining and comparable to surrounding area. For those not completely backfilled, a void will remain, it is unlikely that over time these will fill and become permanent water bodies Waste Rock Storages The foremost rehabilitation outcome for the waste rock storages will be to ensure that the final landform will be stable (physically and chemically). Other desired outcomes for the waste rock storage areas will be that their landscape function and vegetation is resilient, self-sustaining and comparable to the surrounding areas Access & Haul Roads The main site access road and haulage road will be left in place, for usage by the surrounding land owners. This will ensure access to the site for post closure monitoring works. 4.5 Infrastructure for Environmental Protection The proposed activity will be under Administrative Control of Quarry Manager, who will be the overall in-charge for the safety and environmental issues of the activity. It is proposed to outsource the following activities to specialized agencies: Collect the information from regular monitoring and create data-base. Prepare monthly statement Greenbelt development and it s maintenance. Liaison with regulatory authorities like Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and other concerned govt. departments on environmental issues. Monitoring of various environmental parameters (by any MoEF approved lab). E 15

34 4.6 Implementation of EMP & Monitoring Programme The environment management plan is detailed on the basis of impact assessment. Control and mitigation measures for the adverse impacts envisaged. The mitigation measures suggested above will be implemented so as to reduce the impact on environment due to the operations of the proposed plant. In order to facilitate easy implementation, mitigation measures are phased as per the priority implementation. The priority of the implementation schedule is given below: Sl. No Implementation Schedule Recommendations Time Requirement Implementation schedule Immediate Progressive 1. Air pollution control measures On-going work along with Quarrying 2. Water pollution control measures Before commencing the Quarrying Activity 3. Noise control measures On-going work along with Quarrying 4. Ecological preservation and Stage wise up gradation implementation 4.7 Monitoring Strategy As the major environmental attributes have been confined to the project area alone, implementations of the proposed control measures and monitoring thereof will be undertaken on the regional basis. The Fullers Earth will ensure the implementation of the measures within the mine area and carryout efficient monitoring. Also, the monitoring of various environmental parameters is necessary, which is a part and parcel of the environmental protection measures. The proponent Sri. Shivakumar N Yakapur, is committed to implement the monitoring programme, as per the recommendations of the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)/ Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). In order to implement the measures suggested for mitigating the adverse impacts on the environment, it is suggested to monitor the environmental parameters regularly. E 16

35 4.8 Best Practices in Fullers Earth quarrying: The best practices outlined in this document bring a multitude of advantages to a Fullers Earth quarry. These include: ü Reduction in cleanup costs: Proactive site maintenance over the life of the quarry reduces the time and money spent on site cleanup when the quarry closes; reclaiming a well-maintained site is less laborious than restoring one with a poor preservation plan. ü Reduction in fuel costs: Reducing machine idling durations, maintaining infrastructure, and optimizing haul distances reduce fuel consumption and thus expenses. ü Avoidance of regulatory penalties: Site organization and proactive hazard management mitigates potential for occupational exposure and regulatory fees. ü Increase in employee safety & morale: Employees that feel safe at work are more likely to make a greater personal investment in the company. ü Generation of revenue: Site maintenance, interim restoration, and final rehabilitation can increase land value for future leasing and/or sale. Additionally, overburden and quarry dust may be sold for use in road construction and agricultural applications ü Increased efficiency: A clean and well-organized quarry site can increase production efficiency by ensuring open paths and roadways, reducing debris, and increasing the safety of employees. ü Enhancement of company reputation: Adequate maintenance and rehabilitation practices can result in greater community acceptance of the quarry and respect for the company. A company with a reputation for being socially responsible is likely to retain current customers and attract new ones. E 17

36 CHAPTER 5 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 5.1 General Any of the industrial or mining activities have their associated hazards. If these are handled properly, there will not be any unwanted damage to life and property. However, the proposed activity doesn t involve any hazardous operations and the magnitude of the operations is also very small. The proposed project is an opencast mining project. The hazards associated with the proposed activity along with the mitigation measures, are summarized below: Hazards Identified Roof fall inside the mine Flooding of Rain Water Surface Fire Explosives/ Blasting Radioactive hazard Failure of Pit Slopes Failure of waste dumps Failure of mine benches Dust Noise Transport vehicles General Safety Measures 5.2 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Applicability/ Mitigation Measures v Not applicable for open cast mining v Escape Routes will be provided to prevent inundation of storm water v Garland drains with check dam will be provided v Fire Extinguishers v Sand Buckets v Fire Checklines v Fire Watchers v No Blasting v Not Anticipated v Proper design of bench width and height restrictions. v Restriction of dump height v Proper slope with plantation v Not anticipated, due to the fact that Fullers Earth is a hard rocky mineral v Using water during the drilling operation v Proper PPE to the workers in the drilling area v Water Sprinkling on Haulage Roads v Regular maintenance of all equipment v Unnecessary idling of vehicles/ eqpt. not allowed v Loading according to the vehicle capacity v All vehicles shall have rear view mirrors v Regular checking of brakes to avoid failures v No entry for any unauthorized persons v Quarrying as per Approved Plans only v All statutory requirements will be complied with The following PPE will be provided to the persons working in the quarry area: v Steel-Shoed Industrial Safety Shoes E 18

37 v Safety Helmet 5.3 Disaster Management Plan The complete mining operation is carried out under the management control and direction of a qualified manager. The DGMS have been issuing a number of standing orders, model standing orders and circulars to be followed by the mine management in case of disaster, if any. However, following natural/industrial hazards may occur during normal operation. v Inundation of mine pit due to flood/excessive rains; v Slope failures of pit & dump v Accident due to explosives; v Accident due to transport & other equipment; and v Sabotage in case of magazine. To take care of these hazard, the control measures proposed are given above. The management is able to deal with the situation efficiently to reduce confusion keeping in view of the likely sources of danger in the mine. 5.4 Occupational Health & Safety Measures To Control Dust Inhalation All the necessary precautions would be adopted to prevent dust generation at site and to be dispersed in the outside environment. However, for the safety of workers at site, engaged at strategic locations/dust generation points like loading and unloading points, dust masks would be provided. Dust masks would prevent inhalation of RPM thereby reducing the risk of lung diseases and other respiratory disorders. Regular health monitoring of workers will be carried out. 5.5 Health and Safety Monitoring Plan: All the potential occupational hazardous work places would be monitored regularly. The health of employees working in these areas would be monitored once in two years for early detection of any ailment due to exposure to plant operation. --- X --- X --- X --- E 19