Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Assessment of Mining Of

Terms of Reference for Environmental Impact Assessment of

Mining of Minerals

Objectives

Terms of Reference (TOR) for preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan for “Mining of Minerals” as per the EIA Notification, 2006 has been devised to improve the quality of the reports and facilitate decision-making transparent and easy. TOR will help the project proponents and consultants to prepare report with relevant project specific data and easily interpretable information. TOR for mining of minerals is expected to cover all environmental related features.

General Information

Mining of stone and metals has been done since pre-historic times. Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, which are processed and/ or used for production of materials of economic value. Mining of minerals plays a positive role in the process of country’s economic development. In addition to the contribution towards economic growth, mining can also be a major source of degradation of physical as well as social environment, unless it is properly managed.

Environmental impacts can arise during all activities of the mining process. Minimizing the damage due to mining operations depends on sound environmental practices in a framework of balanced environmental legislation. The potential adverse effects of mining activities include air pollution, surface and groundwater pollution, noise and vibration, damage to local ecology, natural topography and drainage, depletion of water resources etc. All these environmental components are required to be considered while selecting a proper methodology of mining, mitigation measures to reduce pollution load, conservation of natural resources etc.

1.0 Introduction

The sand lease was granted to Mr. 1)Jagdishbhai Tejabhai Patel2)Dineshkumar Mavjibhai Patel C/o.Sagarkumar dineshbhai patel over an area of 3.87.00 hectare on Survey No. 199 Paiki Vill. Chikanvas, Ta. Palanpur, Dist. Banaskhantha, Gujarat by state government.This is a sand mining lease and mining operations were commenced on 24-03-2003 and granted permission for 10 years.

2.0 Project Description

I. The mining plan has been approved for sand mining over Building Stone. II. There is no blasting involved in this project. III. The scheme of mining was approved by the District collector & department of mines & geology, palanpur- b.k. (Guarat). Kindly refer Annexure – V for mining plan. IV. Order of Honorable Supreme Court order, dated 06-08-2015 regarding the mining projects with lease area upto less than 5 hectare including projects of minor mineral with less than 5 hectare required environment clearance. V. Sand Mining is done only in Lease area as provided by the mining department. Location of the project VI. Latitude- 24°15'43.55"N VII. Longitude - 72°38'49.47"E VIII. Village-Chikanvas IX. Tehsil-Palanpur X. District-Banaskantha XI. State-Gujarat XII. Airport-Ahemdabad • This project is given for approval

National Park:none

Wildlife sanctuary:none

Topogarphically the district can be divided into three main parts-the hilly or mountainous country in the East, the piedment Zone and plan area in the west. The hilly country has got a high relief and rugged topography covering parts of Deesa Palanpur, Vadgam talukas and entire Danta Taluka. Prominent hilly ranges are Separated by intervening vallys. The high hills are mostly above 1000 m and include jasor, Chiklodar, Ishwania, Daivania-Guru-no-pahad, Gabbargarh etc, This Zone is heavily forested.

Topographical map

3.0 Land environment 3.1.a Land

The existing mining lease area is undulating area covered by hard rock. The lease area is Strip mines quarry under landuse/landcover category.

3.1.b Topography The lease area is undulating and hilly reason and General slope of the area is towards SW. Average height of the lease area is about 445 m from MSL.

3.1.c Geology The majority of the area is occupied by alluvium. There are variety of building stones of the district, such as marble near Ambaji, granite near Dantiwada dam and Umedpura, Crytilline limestone around Danta and Amirgadh and quartzite near Palanpur.

The piedment Zone runs all along the periphery of hilly area and comparises loose to semi consolidated weathered material from the hilly terrain. At places there during rainly season. Most of the rivers have south and Western folow directions. are sand mounds also. To the West and South West river Bans the area flat with occasional undulations giving rise to sand dunes and mound. There is an extensive cover of sand. The Western extension of this plain merges into the marshy area of Rann of Kutch.

Since the district experience a semi-arid types if climate, the rivers flowing through it ate of phemeral nature. some of them like Banas and Saraswati, however, carry fairly good amount of water.

The oldest rock formations found in the district belong to the Delhi, super group of rocks of pre- Cambrian age, These are represented by Ajabgarh Group of metasediments which include calcareous rocks like marble and calcgnesis; argillaceous rocks like quartzite, quartz schist etc. They occupy the north and nonwestern portion of the district. After the deposition of Ajabgarh rocks there were three phases of igneous activity as indicated by the presence of rocks like (1) Basic igneous rocks which have further been metamorphosed into hornblende schist, pyroxene granulite, talc-schist etc. (2) Gabbroic instructions and associated pyroxene granulites and (3) Granites and pegmatites.Next younger rocks are represented by limestone marl and shale of patcham scries belonging to Jurassic period in Mesozoic. They occur as scampered outcrops in western portions, similarly the youngest rocks of Tertiary age also occur in isolated outcrops in the west. They comprise limestone, calcareous, clays and conglomerates. Covering all the above rock types are soils and blown sand. They have been developed and deposited during Holocene times. The sand in fact is still mobile in certain parts.

Chronological order: -

Lithology Period

Alluvium Recent

Sandstone, Limestone Jurassic

Spidiorite, Gabbrom Dolerite, etc. Basic instrusive.

Erinpura Granite Post Delhi intrusives.

3.1.d Soil

Soil may be defined as a thin layer of earth’s crust, which serves as a natural medium for the growth of plants. The soil characteristics include both physical and chemical details. The soil found in the region is in situ soil and found in consolidated form. The soil is brown to reddish in color, fine to very fine-grained having a thickness of 0.5to 1.0 m.

3.2 Air Environment

Ambient air quality monitoring will be done at 1 station in the Core zone and 4 locations in the buffer zone within the study area. The monitoring will be done for 24 hrs twice a week for one season except monsoon. The location of the monitoring station will be selected based on predominant wind direction and sensitive locations within the study area

3.3 Water environment Surface water quality will be monitored from available surface water resource at 3 locations maximum and ground water monitoring will be done at 3 locations depending upon the ground water contour, water sample should be collected once in each month of study period.

3.4 Noise Environment Noise pressure level will be monitored for 4 locations from surrounding of the project from residential, commercial, sensitive locations and at traffic junctions. The monitoring will be done for day and night Leq noise pressure level once every month during study period. 3.5 Biological Environment The details of ecologically sensitive flora and fauna will be collected from the secondary data sources (Forest Department of the area and Research Laboratories) of the study area. The assessment study will be carried out in both core and buffer zone through survey by Functional Area Expert.

3.6 Socio- Economic Environment Socioeconomic condition will be studied from secondary published data and samples collected through questionnaire using appropriate sampling techniques.

3.7 Waste Generation There is no waste generation. Top layer or overburden of the soil and rejects are used for land filling and road making.

4.0 Anticipated Impacts and Mitigation Measures

4.1 Land Environment Environmental Land Use Principles and Planning Analysis focuses on land analysis methods, such as spatial-temporal analysis utilizing Topo Map and Geographic Information Systems(GIS), soils and slope analysis, assessment of storm water quantity and quality, land use and groundwater protection ecological assessment of vegetation, wetlands and habitats.

4.2 Air Environment The air pollution in river sand mining occurs because of activities likes, dragging,excavation, loading unloading, Transportation etc. Air pollution cause by miningactivity is mainly SPM and vehicular emission. Following mitigation measure is taken to minimize SPM generation & air pollution. _ Sprinkling of water on haul road and surrounding area to reduce dusting. _ Plantation will be carried out on approach roads, on boundary of mining and area near by vicinity of river bank which act as wind breaking wall and reduce erosion of soil due to wind. _ It is being ensured that all transportation vehicles will carry a valid PUC certificate. _ To control the emissions regular preventive maintenance of equipment will be carried out on contractual basis.

4.3 Water Environment (surface and groundwater) Surface Water Pollution: There will be no any water pollution because no any waste water stream generate from mining.

Domestic Wastewater: _ 0.50 KL/Day of domestic wastewater generates, which pass through septic tank before discharge in soak-pit..

4.4 Noise Environment In mining project noise pollution generate due to various mining activity like, transportation and loading unloading of material.

Following mitigation measures taken to prevent noise pollution;

_ No other equipment except the transportation vehicles and Excavator for loading will be allowed.

_ Noise generated by vehicles or equipment shall be intermittent and does not cause much adverse impact.

_ Proper maintenance of all equipment/ machines will be carried out which help in reducing noise during operations. _ Plantation will be taken up along the approach roads and vicinity of river bank.The plantation minimizes propagation of noise and also arrests dust.

_ PPE like ear plug , hand gloves, helmet etc. provided to workers

4.5 Biological There is making Plantation after mining have been done.and there is no disturbance is wild life and for any animals.

4.6 Socio- Economic Environment There is small workers population due to mining area and also constructed some infrastructers.

4.7 Mine Wastes The mine wastes, solid wastes are used for road construction and reclamation.

5.0 Method of Mining

Proposed development during STP period :

Access roads will be developed.

Plantation will be done along the lease boundary covering an area of 00.20.00 hectare.Mineable

Reserves and anticipated life of the mine :

Mineable reserves have been calculated by talking into account the reserves in probable category only Mining losses due to the statutory barrier zone,Therefore mineable reserves are as below :

Proposed method of Mining :

Mining will be done by semi mechanized open cast mining method by using the Hitachi and Dumpers.

Following broad features will be employed :

Mining will be done by using the Hitachi. At the end of the mine, bench width should not be less than the height of the Bench.

The pit limit angle will be kept at 45

Waste rock management :

As there is no waste generated due to mining waste management is not required.

6.0 Environment monitoring programme

Reclamation and Rehabilitation :

As the life of the mine is 5 year(during STP period), reclamation will be done in the way of plantation. It is proposed to do the plantation covering an area of 0.50 hectare are covered under along the lease boundary and 1 hect. will be used for grazing land.

Extent of the area covered and number of saplings to be planted:

It is proposed 75 saplings in during STP period planted along the lease boundary Shown on Layout Plan

Blasting :

No Blasting is required for this mine.

Quantity & Quality of water likely to be encountered, pumping arrangement and discharge of mine water :

The average rainfall of the area is 150 mm. There is no proposal for pumping or discharge of water from the Quarry. Therefore, quality of water bodies outside the area will not be affected.

RECLAMATION:

As this is the fresh area to be granted for the mining work, no steps have been taken for the area to be reclaimed.

No reclamation is proposed in way of backfilling in the absence of the backfilling material. Measures to be taken for the land restoration., reclamation and Plantation :

The land will be degraded after the two year of working. Therefore, the reclamation of the land will be required at the end of the life of the mine.

Following steps will be taken for the Reclamation and restoration of the land : Total 4.00 hect. will be covered under the plantation at the barrier zone.

6.0 Additional Studies Risk Assessment (RA) and Disaster Management Plan (DMP): There is Making Local Disaster group and local station by local lease and qurry association and also provide hospital facility by disaster group.

DETAILS OF THE EMPLOYMENT:

Requirement of Technical, other staff and man power are as follows

S.No PARTICULARS NUMBER

1 Managerial and Supervisory personal

(i) Mines Manager (As per MMR 1961) 1

(ii) Mines Engineer (As per MCDR,1988) (part time) 1

(iii) Mining Geologist (part time) 1

(iv) Mining Mate/Supervisor 1

(v) Driller cum Blaster NA

Total 4

2 Skilled : 3 JCB Operator 1

(ii) Dumper driver 2

3 Semi – skilled :

(i) Helpers 5

(ii) Clerk-cum-store keeper 1

Total 6

4 Un – skilled :

Average daily production is 30tonnes (Avg)

This will be achieved by the combination of Dumpers and JCB.

(iii) Miscellaneous job 1

Total 1

Grand Total 14

7.0 Environmental cost-benefit analysis The Project will bring economic benefits to the state by the way of royalty for mineral. The mining operations shall be providing employment to approximately 14 persons directly in the excavation. Most of the local people are likely to be benefited. This project operation will provide livelihood to the poorest section of the society. Mining is expected to have positive impact on socio-economic life of people living in nearby villages.

8.0 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Based on the baseline data and predicted additional environmental impacts, mitigation measures and EMP will be suggested in the report. In line with EIA notification, ToR will be prepared and presented to EAC before taking up baseline data generation. On finalization of draft EIA/EMP and Public hearing will be arranged at site in line with EIA notification and final EIA will be prepared by incorporating the proceeding of the public hearing and presented to EAC for grant for EC.

Air Pollution Control: The air pollution in river sand mining occurs because of activities likes, mining, loading unloading, Transportation etc. Air pollution cause by mining activity is mainly SPM and vehicular emission.

Following mitigation measure is taken to minimize SPM generation. To control the emissions regular preventive maintenance of equipment will be carried out on contractual basis. Proper mitigation measures like water sprinkling will be adopted to control dust emissions.

Plantation will be carried out on approach roads, periphery of mining site & nearbyvicinity of river bank.

It is being ensured that all transportation vehicles will carry a valid PUC certificate.

Water Pollution Control: Surface Water Pollution: There will be no any water pollution because no any waste water stream generate from mining.

Domestic Wastewater: 0.50 KL/Day of domestic wastewater generates, which pass through septic tank before discharge in soak-pit.

Noise Pollution Control: In mining project noise pollution generate due to various mining activity like, transportation and loading unloading of material.

Following mitigation measures taken to prevent noise pollution; Preventive measures:

No other equipment except the transportation vehicles and Excavator for loading will be allowed.

Noise generated by these equipment by these equipment shall be intermittent and does not cause much adverse impact.

Proper maintenance of all equipment/ machines will be carried out which help in reducing noise during operations. Plantation will be taken up along the approach roads and vicinity of river bank. The plantation minimizes propagation of noise and also arrests dust.

PPE like ear plug , hand gloves, helmet etc. provided to workers

Solid Waste Management: In sand mining process solid waste generates from removal of top layer and rejection of material, Following action will take by proponent to manage solid waste;

It is used in land filling and leveling of haul roads.

Plantation over and around rejected material or removed top layer dumps will becarried out to prevent dust and air pollution.

Wetting of mining and surrounding area will be carried out to prevent air pollution.

9.0 Summery

We are trying here to satisfy the term of reference suggested by EIA for mining of minerals. All points suggested in TOR of EIA are described here mostly and also our project will take care about environment features.