NARSAPURAM SAND REACH , NARSAPURAM VILLAGE, DUMMUGUDEM MANDAL, DISTRICT, STATE BY TELANGANA STATE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, GOVERNMENT OF TELANGANA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Studies and Documentation By Submitted By TEAM Labs and Consultants M/s. Telangana State Mineral Development B-115 to 117 & 509, Annapurna Block, Corporation Limited House No. 6-2-915, 4th Floor, Rear block, Aditya Enclave, Ameerpet,

HMWSSB premises, Khairathabad, Hyderabad-500 038

Hyderabad - 500004. Phone: 040-23748 555/616,

040-23323150 Telefax: 040-23748666 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

SUBMITTED TO TELANGANA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, REGIONAL OFFICE, KOTHAGUDEM Narsapuram Sand Reach Summary and conclusion

Chapter 11.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

11.1 Introduction

Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation Limited obtained a mining lease for Narsapuram sand reach to extract ordinary sand mining by manual method over an extent of 24.20 Ha in Godavari river bed at Narsapuram Village, Dummugudem Mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem District, Telangana State. Sand is considered as minor mineral and is mainly used for construction projects.

In principle of sand reach, allotment order was obtained by M/s. TSMDC Ltd., by The Assistant Director of Mines and Geology, Bhadradri Kothagudem vide letter no. 1298/SAND/2016, dt. 16.08.2018. The mining plan was approved by the deputy director of mines and geology (DDMG), Warangal, Government of Telangana state, vide Letter No. 563/MP‐2/KMM/2020, dt. 04.03.2020 (Old mine Plan: 117/MP- 2/KMM/2019, dt. 27.03.2019) for a production capacity of Sand mining – 242000 m3/Annum.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of (GOI) issued notifications vide SO 1533, dt. 14.9.2006, its amendments based on the directions issued by National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi vide O. A. No. 16 of 2016, dt.13.09.2018 and vide E.A.NO 55/2018 of O. A. No. 520/2016, dt. 11.12.2018 and MoEFCC notification S.O.2269 (E), dt.01.07.2016 and S.O.3977 (E), dt.14.08.2018 and Office Memorandum dt.12.12.2018 issued in compliance with the Hon’ble NGT orders, New Delhi, mandate prior environmental clearance for all mining leases across the country. The notification and its amendments based on NGT directions, classify mine lease areas of 5 - 25 ha as category B2 at par with B1 and stipulate a three-stage process of scoping public consultation, and appraisal by State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to issue a prior environmental clearance. Accordingly scoping for preparation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) was done by the state expert appraisal committee (SEAC), which issued terms of reference vide Letter No. SEIAA/TS/OL/BKGM-26/2020, dt.21.08.2020 (Earlier TOR: SEIAA/TS/OL/ BKGM-05/2019 - 191, dt.03.12.2019) for a production capacity of 242000 m3/year of sand in an area of 24.20 ha. The present

11 - 1 Team Labs and Consultants Narsapuram Sand Reach Summary and conclusion study follows the prescribed ToR’s and draft EIA/EMP report for public consultation, to facilitate informed view on the project by public/stakeholders for the lease area.

M/s Team Labs and Consultants prepared Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the proposed activity. The report is prepared using baseline data of environmental status within 10 km radius of the mine lease area for major environmental components; water, air, noise, soil, flora, fauna, and socio-economic environment for one season, and the proposed measures to be adopted for mitigating and controlling pollution.

11.2 Mine Location

The sand reach has dimensions of 877 m of length, 276 m of width (24.2 ha), and it proposed to mine up to 1 m depth only. The sand reach is located in the floodplain of Godavari river at a distance of 400 m from the stream and 297 m away from river bund. The salient features of the mine lease location and study area are presented in the table below.

Salient features of the mine lease location and study area

Description Remarks Narsapuram Sand Reach by Telangana State Mineral Name of the Project (s) Development Corporation Limited., Godavari River Bed, Narsapuram Village, Dummugudem Location of the Project Mandal, BhadradriKothagudem District, Telangana State. Product Ordinary Sand @ 242000 m3/year Latitudes (North) 17° 45'16.04 to 17° 45'44.77" N Longitudes (East) 80°52'38.33" to 80°53'01.6"E Survey of India sheet No 65 C/13 Elevation above Mean Sea Level (AMSL), m 40 Seismic zone Seismic Zone: II as per IS: 1893 North : Godavari River East : Godavari River Site surroundings West : Godavari River South : Godavari River Nearest Village Narsapuram village – 1.5 km - NE direction Access to site Site connecting – NE direction Road access Bhadrachalam to Venkatapuram road – 0.7 km –E

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Description Remarks direction Nearest Town Bhadrachalam –10 km – N direction District Head quarters Bhadradri Kothagudem –34 km – SW direction Nearest Railway station Aswapuram RS – 10.3 Km – NW direction Nearest airport RGI Airport – 264 km – SW direction Nearest Port Krishnapatnam Port – 254 km – SE direction Water Bodies in buffer Uruvai Canal - 3.1 km - NW direction area Tallipedu Project Canal - 2.5 km - E direction Presence of Water Bodies in Core Area Godavari River Tunkicheruvu RF - 3.8 km - SE direction Bhadrachalam RF - 7.4 km - SE direction Reserve Forest Arlagudem RF - 4.0 km - NE direction Kistasagar A RF - 3.8 km - W direction Inter-state boundary and international boundary Nil within 10 km Protected Areas notified under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 Nil within 10 km Eco-sensitive areas as notified under section 3 of the E (P) Act, 1986 Nil within 10 km Critically polluted areas as identified by the Central Pollution Control Board from time to time, Nil within 10 km Defence Installation Nil within 10 km

11.3 Proposed Method of Mining

The sand in the mine lease area is in the flood plain and is exposed on the surface. Hence it is proposed to use manual open cast mining method with a maximum depth of 1 m.

11.3.1 Development and Production

The sand is exposed to surface without over burden in the flood plain.

11.4 Conceptual Plan

The mining operations will follow manual open cast method. The entire reserves estimated under proved category as per statutory requirement are 242000 m3 based

11 - 3 Team Labs and Consultants Narsapuram Sand Reach Summary and conclusion on the mine scheme. Therefore, the targeted production is 242000 m3/year of sand. Since it is a manual open cast mine the impact is less, the land degradation is limited to the extent of open cast manual method, haulage roads and ramp.

11.5 Employment Potential

The manpower requirement is 239 for various semi-skilled and unskilled jobs headed by a mine’s manager as per approved mine plan.

11.6 Site Services

The Site services provided are temporary office, rest rooms, First Aid and Rest sheds of temporary nature will be constructed near the ramp of specified sand bearing area. Temporary sheds with cement plastered brick walls and G.I. sheet or grass roofing are constructed for site services. The workers required shall be sourced from surrounding villages. Drinking water is obtained from nearby villages through tankers to mining staff and workers. A tractor mounted tanker is provided for sprinkling of water mainly on village roads to suppress the dust generated due to vehicular movement.

11.7 Water Requirement and Effluent Generation

The total water requirement is 12.2 KLD. Water requirement for the proposed activity is mainly for maintaining the green belt (0.8 KLD), for sprinkling on the haul roads (1.2 KLD) to mitigate dust emissions, and for domestic purposes (10.2 KLD). Stagnated water if any, in worked out area is used for sprinkling and green belt development. The domestic water will be drawn from Narsapuram village.

11.8 Baseline Environmental Status

The baseline data for ambient air quality, surface and ground water quality, noise, and soil quality was collected and analyzed for various parameters to determine the existing quality and flora and fauna study of the impact area was conducted during period of December 2019 - February 2020. The ambient air quality monitoring results shows that the values are within the prescribed limits of national ambient air quality standards. Ground water sample analysis results show that the values are

11 - 4 Team Labs and Consultants Narsapuram Sand Reach Summary and conclusion above the limits for total dissolved solids, total hardness, most of the locations compared to Indian Standard Drinking Water Specification of IS: 10500-2012. Noise quality parameters in the study area are within prescribed limits of Ambient Noise Standards. There are no schedule I flora or fauna within the impact area.

11.8.1 Identification and Quantification of Impacts

The project activities that are likely to cause potential impacts on environment are mining operations, transport and associated infrastructure. The likely effects of these activities are fugitive dust generation, noise levels, domestic wastewater and human health risks.

ISCST3 model was used for air quality impact predictions. The predicted maximum 24 hourly GLC’s for the cluster were used to predict the ground level concentrations, and the maximum predicted values of PM, PM10 and PM10 are 1.98, 0.79 and 0.36 g/m3 respectively and the maximum values are observed within the site. The cumulative values (baseline and predicted) are found to be within the prescribed standards of national ambient air quality.

11.9 Environment Management Plan

The management plan is drawn in consultation with the project proponent, RQP after evaluating various methods for mitigation and control of pollution. The environment management plan is drawn to address the impacts monitored, identified and predicted for the present project and the cluster in which the present project falls in. The environment management plan addresses the impacts identified.

11.9.1 Dust Emissions

Dust will be generated during mining also during handling and transportation of the material. Haulage of sand will lead to emissions of fugitive dust in the mining area. It is proposed to provide water sprinkling in haul roads to reduce the fugitive dust emissions. Tractor mounted sprinkler will be deployed.

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11.9.2 Noise Pollution Control

Major noise sources during operation is mine vehicular movement. The following measures will be adopted to reduce noise levels; improved silencers, mufflers and closed noise generating parts, regular and periodic maintenance of noise generating machinery including transport vehicles, location of site office and other infrastructures away from the noise sources. Personal protective equipment like earmuffs, earplugs. Canal caps will be provided to workers involved in work closer to noise generating sources. The exposure to noise levels is also mitigated by adopting employee rotation.

11.9.3 Water Resources and Waste Water Generation

The daily water requirement for the mine operations would be approximately 12.2 KLD comprising of requirement for water sprinkling on mine haulage roads etc. The other major impact anticipated from mining activity is erosion and sedimentation, as large area of flood plain is exposed to erosion. The domestic wastewater in the order of 8.2 KLD is sent to septic tank followed by soak pit.

11.9.4 Land Management

During plan period about 24.20 ha area will be occupied by pit and roads. Other temporary constructions are dismantled after completion of mine workings, while the mine pit is expected to be inundated during monsoon to be filled with sediment/sand.

11.9.6 Socio-Economic Environment

There are no settlements in the ML area. Hence no rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) is required. The mining activity will improve the economic status of the people surrounding the mine lease area. The proposed project generates employment to 272 people, and all the semiskilled and unskilled jobs will be provided to the local villagers. Apart from employment, the state government and village panchayath will get royalty due to mining.

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11.9.7 Green Belt

Greenbelt is proposed as an additional mitigation measure for dust control in addition to water sprinkling. It is proposed to have dense green belt in and around the connecting road to the river bund, temporary stockyard which has the main loading and unloading facilities. About 450 trees will be planted during the period. Precautionary measures like regular watering, providing manure and fencing will be taken up to achieve 90% of survival rate of plantation.

11.9.8 Transportation

The required truck trips for transporting the mineral from this mine lease shall be in the order of 51 truck trips. Currently the Mine lease area is connected to Narsapuram - Badrachalam road by a cart truck road, which is a 2-lane road.

11.9.9 Occupational Health and Safety Measures

Protective equipment will be provided to the employees such as safety shoes, helmets and dust masks. Dust masks would be provided for the safety of workers at site, engaged at dust generation points like loading and unloading points, etc. Dust masks would prevent inhalation of particulate matter thereby reducing the risk of lung diseases and other respiratory disorders. Regular health monitoring of workers will be carried out. The health impact due to dust shall be addressed by rotation of employees from dust generating jobs after periodic health monitoring.

11.10 Environmental Monitoring Program

The monitoring program consists of collection and analysis of air, soil, noise and surface and ground water samples. Environmental monitoring shall be conducted on quarterly basis to assess the pollution level in the ML area and in the surrounding areas as well. An Environment Management Cell shall be established to look after all the environment related activities. This cell will be headed by the Mines Manger. The Cell is responsible for all the environmental management activities including environmental monitoring, greenbelt development and to ensure statutory compliance with the regulatory authorities. The capital cost for environmental management is Rs.4.63 Lakhs and annual recurring cost is Rs.1.39 Lakhs.

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11.12 Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER)

It is proposed to spend Rs. 0.7 Lakhs in seven years for CER activities like provision of drinking water facility, solar street lamps, trees plantation. The management will provide training and awareness on job facilities to unemployed graduates and post graduates, embroidery and tailoring training to backward and weaker section women and training to local sports persons.

11.14 Conclusion

The environmental impact study identified various mining activities that may result in change in baseline status, and accordingly the proposed mitigation measures mentioned in mine plan and the environment management plan were observed to be sufficient to ensure least impact on the surrounding areas. The project is also observed to be in compliance of WALTA rules 2004 and Sustainable sand mining guidelines of MoEFCC, GOI. The residual impact due to mining is mainly loss of river habitat which has to be compensated, loss of biodiversity which can be offset, and worked out mine pit which has to be Replenished. The sediment data available gives an assurance that the mine pit will be replenished with the least sedimentation observed from past data. The management assures to adopt extensive plantation in surrounding areas to compensate habitat and biodiversity loss, thereby reducing the impact to the maximum extent. The environmental impact study identified various mining activities that may result in change in baseline status, and accordingly the proposed mitigation measures mentioned in mine plan and the environment management plan were observed to be sufficient to ensure least impact on the surrounding areas.

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