jhilingburu i iron & manganese ore mining...
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JHILINGBURU – I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING PROJECT
Proposed ToR Page 1 of 14
Background:
Jhillingburu – I Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project was considered in the Reconstituted
Expert Appraisal Committee for Environmental Appraisal of Mining Projects (Non-Coal) of the
MoEFCC during June 20-22th, 2012 for prescribing Terms of Reference (TOR). While appraising
the subject project for Terms of Reference (TOR) by EAC during aforesaid meeting, the violation
of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was pointed out and MoEFCC vide letter No. J-
11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 08.05.2013 directed SAIL to take appropriate action as per
Circular J11013/41/2006-IA.II (I) dated 12th December, 2012.
Accordingly, in compliance of circular dated 12.12.2012, copy of Board Resolution was
submitted to MoEFCC on 01.06.2013 and Jharkhand Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) informed
MoEFCC vide letter dated 25.11.2014 that Criminal case has been initiated against SAIL in the
Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate West Singhbhum at Chaibasa to take cognizance of offence by
the said court under Section 15 of the E(P) Act, 1986. After the procedural intimation to
MoEFCC, vide letter no. J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015, MoEFCC had issued TOR
for undertaking detailed EIA study the project. Copy of the approved TOR is appended below:
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Based on the above ToR (J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015), EIA study was conducted. A brief on anticipated impacts and its corresponding mitigation measures suggested in the EIA/EMP report for re-opening of Jhillingburu-I project is tabulated below:
Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
Air Quality Drilling and Blasting
PM10, SO2 and NOx
Adverse Use of dust aprons on drilling equipment and adopting wet drilling methods.
A. Delay blasting under unfavorable wind and
atmospheric conditions The production of blast fumes containing noxious gases
will be reduced by the following methods:
Use of adequate booster/primer; and
Proper stemming of the blast hole.
Scientific design of blast.
B Drills fitted with dust collection system to be
deployed or using wet drilling method. C. Development of greenbelt.
Overburden removal,
extraction of
manganese ore, Loading
/ unloading of
overburden
and manganese
ore, stock piling of ore,
dumping of overburden
at dump sites
within ML area
Increase in SPM levels in
ambient air
due to dust generation
and NOx, HC, SO2 and
CO
concentration levels in
ambient air due to
vehicular emissions.
Adverse Sprinkling of water on haul roads at regular
intervals.
Installing permanent water sprinklers at strategic
areas/locations/stretches
Regular maintenance of vehicles and machinery will
be carried out
Cabins for shovel and dumpers and dust respirators
to workmen will be provided. All HEMM cabins will
be air-conditioned.
Dust suppression will be done on exposed area
using water trucks and sprinkler
Greenbelt development will be taken up all along
the haul roads
Separate storage of top soil for progressive
reclamation of dumps and mined out area backfilled
with overburden material.
Re-vegetation of mined out area and inactive dumps
and
A good housekeeping and proper maintenance will
be practiced which will help in controlling pollution.
Transportation of
overburden and
manganese
ore
-do- Adverse Use of covered dumpers/tippers for transportation of manganese ore
Regular water sprinkling on haul, access roads and all transfer points.
Haul roads to be maintained by surface grading to
minimize excessive road surface wearing. Roads no longer required will be re-vegetated as soon as
JHILINGBURU – I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING PROJECT
Proposed ToR Page 9 of 14
Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
possible.
General equipment
operations
Increase in SPM, NOx
and CO
concentrations in
ambient air.
Adverse Regular maintenance of all equipment to minimize particulate matter and gaseous emissions from diesel
driven vehicles & equipment.
Use of non-electric initiation and computerized blast design to maximize the explosive energy for
fragmentation and minimum fume generation in blast.
All activities Excessive exposures to
airborne particulate
matter.
Adverse Personal protective will be provided to all workers working in dusty environment
Noise Levels and Ground
Vibrations
Drilling and Blasting
High impulsive
noise levels, overpressure
and ground
vibrations impacts and
noise related community
annoyance
Adverse Noise Control Measures
Controlled blasting with proper spacing, burden and
stemming will be maintained;
No secondary blasting
Minimum quantity of detonating fuse will be
consumed by using alternatively Excel non-
electrical initiation system;
The blasting will be carried out during favorable
atmospheric condition and less human activity
timings;
Provision of sound insulated chambers for the
workers deployed on machines (HEMM)
Green belt (7.5 m wide) has been developed all
along the four block boundaries to attenuate noise.
A thick tree belt will be provided in phased manner
around the periphery of the mine to attenuate
noise;
Trees will be planted on both sides of haul roads.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like ear
muffs/ear plugs will be provided to the operators of
HEMM and persons working near HEMM; and
Reducing the exposure time of workers to the
higher noise levels.
Measures to Control Ground Vibration
Proper quantity of explosive, suitable stemming
materials and appropriate delay system are to be
adopted for safe blasting. Computerized blast
design to be used.
A safe blasting zone is kept around the periphery of
the quarry.
Machine and transportatio
n of overburden
and
manganese ore within
the ML area.
Increase in noise levels
occupational hazard due
to noise
exposures and increase
in ambient noise levels.
Adverse
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Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
Overcharging will be avoided;
The charge per delay will be minimized and
preferably more number of delays will be used per
blasts;
Water
Resources and Quality
Working
above water table
No reduction
in groundwater
availability as the working
is above
ground water table
Beneficial The main source of industrial water to cater to the
needs of plant/ facilities in the ML area will be through nearby flowing Karo river.
Mine Drainage:
The garland drains will be developed in advance for
each mine stage such that water is collected in
these garland drains and discharged properly into
settling tanks to settle out suspended solids in the
storm water. The clarified water is reused for green
belt development.
The overall drainage planning will be done in such a
manner that the existing pre-mining drainage
conditions should be maintained to the extent
possible, so that run off distribution is not affected.
Water accumulated in voids shall be used as source
of water to help maintaining the water table.
Working faces will be laid such that the water from
the working areas will flow into the sump by gravity
from where it will be pumped out to sumps.
Face pumps of adequate capacity will be provided
at working faces to keep these dry.
Stone pitching shall be made at suitable places to
regulate water flow.
The settling tank and drains are cleaned
periodically, especially during monsoons.
Surface Water Pollution Control Measures
Retaining walls of adequate dimensions will be
provided at the toe of dumps and the unstable OB
benches within the mine to prevent wash off from
dumps and sliding of material from benches. This
will help in preventing silting of water
drains/channels;
The water channels/drains carrying the rain water
from the mine will be provided with baffles and
settling pits to arrest the suspended solids, if any,
present in this water;
The worked out slopes will be stabilized by planting
appropriate shrub/grass species on the slopes. This
will help in preventing wash-off of manganese ore
from these slopes;
The mine water will be regularly tested for presence
Water required for
mine, (dust suppression
systems,
workshop, domestic
facilities and greenbelt
development)
Entire water demand for
the industrial use will be
met from the
nearby flowing Karo
rivers
Adverse
Waste water generated
from mine & domestic
usage at mine.
Deterioration in ground
water and soil quality
when used
untreated water for
greenbelt development
Adverse
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Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
of any undesirable elements and appropriate
measures will be taken in case any element is found
exceeding the limits prescribed by CPCB; and
Ground Water Pollution Control Measures
The domestic sewage from the canteen and toilets
will be routed to septic tanks followed by soak pits.
The workshop effluent will be routed through oil &
grease trap and treated to the discharge standards
and reused in the workshop.
Regular monitoring of water levels and quality in
the existing open wells and bore well in the vicinity
will be carried out. If found necessary, additional
observation wells will be sunk for monitoring the
water table levels and quality around the mine
representing both upstream and downstream
conditions.
Drainage
pattern and Hydrogeology
Mining
operations and waste dump
Catchment
area inside the mine will
be affected.
Adverse No surface streams have been proposed to be diverted
for the project. The pre-mining surface drainage pattern shall be maintained as far as possible.
Landuse and Soil
Characteristics
Commencement of Mining &
allied activities
Existing landuse of
the core zone will
alter.
Land degradation
due to disposal of
waste
materials.
Adverse The area in and around Jhillingburu I ML has a number of forested hillocks and mostly unfertile land. In the
buffer zone there are other mines also. In these mining areas, most of the original natural vegetation has been
cut down and only a few of the original trees are still
remaining. However, following measures will be taken:
Construction/ Installation of diversion drains and
sediment fences prior to starting earthworks.
Dust suppression on exposed areas using water
tankers and automatic sprinkling systems.
Contour overburden dump to minimize erosion.
Plantation around service building, along road in
and around the safety zone using native plant
sapling.
Backfilling & re-handling of external OB dump as
per approved Progressive Mine Closure Plan.
Compliance with mine decommissioning plan.
The following precautions will be taken to reduce the risk of dump failure:
OB benches will be made of <10m height in each
tier.
Angle of repose of OB dump to be around 37o.
Construction of toe wall around the OB dump.
Drainage control structure like garland drains to be
made around OB dump area to avoid water flow
during monsoon below the OB dump.
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Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
Leveling, grading and drainage arrangement for top
of OB dumps.
Technical & biological reclamation.
Topsoil to be stored in small heaps (2m high) at
appropriate moisture content with proper
vegetation.
Maintenance of a nursery for planting local variety
of plants and shrubs that support bio-diversity.
Flora and Fauna Mine development
and operations
Transportation
to railway
siding
Displacement of existing
fauna.
Loss of vegetation
Adverse Since, the lease area falls within Ghatkuri Reserve Forest, the vegetation is mainly comprised of trees,
bushes, shrubs and creepers. Attempts will be made to avoid any further damage and loss of flora and
displacement of fauna.
However, besides plantation in the ML area and partly
reclamation of excavated part of quarry-2 area, the compensatory vegetation in ML area has been carried out
at the proposed sites.
Occupational Health & Safety
Overall Mining & allied
activities
Occupational health
problems due to dust
& noise.
Accident
probability due to slope
failure, movement of
HEMM,
handling of explosives.
Adverse Adoption of dust suppression measures like
spraying water, use of drill with dust collection
system or wet drills etc.
Plantation
Avoid blasting during unfavorable wind &
atmospheric conditions
Use of personal protective equipment.
Periodical training of workers
Compliance with DGMS circulars
Emergency response plan that includes installation of emergency response equipment to combat events such
as fire. All personnel required to handle hazardous materials will be provided with personal protective
equipment suitable for the hazardous material being
handled. On-site first aid facilities will be provided to employees
and will be extended to the local community in emergencies.
Socio-economic
Aspects
Land
acquisition for mine site
No
displacement of people &
loss of properties.
- The project does not envisage any leasing or acquisition
of private land. Hence, there won’t be any land oustees who have to be resettled or rehabilitated.
Mining
operations
Increase in
economic status of
local people
& in the region due to
Increase in employment
Beneficial The project will provide ample opportunity to the local
people for direct and in-direct employment. The proposed project may create opportunities for indirect employment
in the field of vehicle hiring, labours, trading of
construction materials, carpenters etc. Corporate Social Responsibility plan has been prepared and the
necessary budgetary allocations have been made for the upliftment of villages.
JHILINGBURU – I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING PROJECT
Proposed ToR Page 13 of 14
Environmental
Component
Project
Activities
Impacts Adverse /
Beneficial
Mitigative Measures
opportunities
both direct
and indirect.
Some of the CSR activities are nationally famous viz. fully
residential archery academy, fully residentially Hostel for education, total responsibility of candidate sponsored for
ITI, self- employment through Kiran & Swarojgar Kendra, mobile ambulance, weekly health camps, welfare camps,
eye camps, free medicine to local villagers, provision of drinking water to each household etc.
The facilities of the mine’s hospitals at Gua are also extended to local villagers. Special efforts are made
towards malaria prevention in villages around SAIL’s townships.
A number of benefits are inherently ingrained in the proposal of resumption of mining
operation in Jhillingburu-I ML of Gua Ore Mines which is discussed below:
The re-opening does not envisage any increase in the leasehold area of 30.43 ha. No
rehabilitation and resettlement of land oustees is involved in the project since no private
land is involved. The fugitive emissions from the open cast quarries are not expected to
spread much beyond the mine lease. Nevertheless, necessary measures to minimize
fugitive emissions will be adopted.
Retaining walls/ check dams will be constructed to prevent flow of solid wastes into
Karo nala. Settling pits will be dug at appropriate places to arrests solids present in
storm water run-offs.
There will not be any ground water extraction because the water table lies below the
planned ultimate working depth and the mine will not draw any ground water.
SAIL is committed towards welfare activities of surrounding areas through peripheral
development activities and CSR activities. Since socio-economic backgrounds of the local
inhabitant are not very attractive, the project will help to improve the human
development index.
SAIL has established an Industrial Training Institute for developing the skills of local
youth.
SAIL has developed model villages “STEEL VILLAGE” in near Baraiburu and Guasai.
Some of the CSR activities are of national repute viz. fully residential archery academy,
fully residentially Hostel for education, total responsibility of candidate sponsored for
ITI, self-employment through Kiran & Swarojgar Kendra, mobile ambulance, weekly
health-camps, welfare-camps, eye-camps, free medicine to local villagers, provision of
drinking water to each household etc.
The facilities of the mine’s hospitals at Gua are also extended to local villagers. Special efforts are made towards malaria prevention in villages around SAIL’s townships.
As the area is forest dominated, the main source of livelihood is forest produce and
agricultural activities. However, the operations of mines in surrounding regions have
shifted the source of income more towards services and employment over the years.
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The project will also provide a fillip and impetus to the agriculture sector, physical
infrastructures like roads, railways, electricity generation, and distribution along with the
social infrastructures like education, health sector, water supply and training etc. among
the other things.
SAIL will form its own group with participation from local villagers to formulate socio
environmental performance indicators and contrive management programmes with best
management practices for implementation. Thus, SAIL will act as a catalyst for bringing
socio-environmental change in the area.
Air quality, water quality and noise levels will not change by any appreciable margin
(mentioned in chapter 4 of the EIA/EMP report). Thus, changes in environmental quality
on account of reopening of the mine will be minimal and confined mostly within the
lease. There is only a small labour colony within the lease which shall be shielded from
the mining operations. Thus public health is unlikely to be affected by the proposed
project.
Eco-restoration of mined out area will be carried out through JFM (Joint Forest
Management) model.
The project has potential to generate ~ 152 direct and ~ 700 indirect jobs and
development of downstream/ ancillary industries which again in turn will aid in socio-
economic boost.
The project is proposed to invest in Jharkhand ~ Rs. 1000 lakhs which will boost the
revenue of the state.
An appeal: As the mining operations are in vogue since 1919 in the adjacent lease, the neighboring villages in the impact zone are familiar with the operations. In fact SAIL has most of the infrastructure existing at the location; only augmentation of some of the installations is required for the resumption of mining in Jhillingburu I ML. SAIL has participated and committed to participate for improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the local people by generation of direct and indirect employment, providing resources for social capital building etc. in a significant way. Keeping in view of the requirement of manganese ore for SAIL’s growth plan, soundness of the environmental strategy formulated for the project and need for development of the predominantly backward region, implementation of the project is essential. In addition to the prescribed ToR (J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015) based on which EIA/EMP study was carried out and Public Hearing process for the project was completed on 12.11.2016. Thereafter, final EIA/EMP report for the project was submitted online to MoEFCC on 04.01.2017 and the proposal was accepted by MoEFCC on 10.02.2017. As per direction of MoEFCC in the acceptance letter dated 10.02.2017, hard copies of the EIA report along other documents was also submitted to MoEFCC, New Delhi on 16.02.2017. Further, in case EAC prescribes any additional ToR (studies/safeguard measures) for the project, SAIL will undertake the same and will submit an additional report with addendum to the already submitted Final EIA Report.
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