Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report for Thiru T.Mathimaran, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu

Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report For Thiru T.Mathimaran, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu

Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report

1. NOISE AND VIBRATION

1.1 NOISE

With the starting of mining operations, deployment of machinery, drilling and blasting during mine development, excavation and transportation of materials, it is imperative that noise levels shall increase. In order to assess the impact baseline ambient noise level with respect to eco-sensitive zone, noise monitoring has been carried out at three different points using Sound level meter. Measured noise values are given in the Table 1.1 Table 1.1 Noise Monitoring

Sl.No Sampling Location Noise Value Average Noise Limits as per TNPCB dB (A) Value dB (A) dB (A) ( Day Time) 1 Quarry Entrance Area 60.2 60.8 61.55 61.7 63.5 2 Pocalin Operator Area 68.2 68.1 68.05 67.9 68.0 75 3 Driling Area 66.3 66.5 65.93 65.0 65.9 4 Compressor Area 79.1 80.1 80.40 80.9 81.5

AADHI BOOMI MINING AND ENVIRO TECH (P) LTD. Salem, Tamil Nadu (Formerly known as SURIYA MINING SERVICES) QCI/NABET Accredited Consultant Organization Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report For Thiru T.Mathimaran, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu

Figure 1.1 Noise Monitoring

1.2 OBSERVATION

Average noise value is found to be 68.98 dB (A) which satisfies TNPCB Standards. The data thus obtained is considered for preparing this report.

1.3 VIBRATION

Ground vibration, fly rock, air blast, noise, dust and fumes are the deleterious effects of blasting on environment. The explosive energy sets up a seismic wave in the ground, which can cause significant damage to structures and disturbance to human occupants if not operated in controlled manner.

When an explosive charge is fired in a confined blast hole, in addition to spontaneous release of hot gases, fumes etc intense pressure on the blast hole walls cause for Noise and Vibration. High intensity shock waves propagate in all directions and cause the rock particles to oscillate. This oscillation is felt as ground vibration. Such ground vibrations are Controlled by several controlled blasting techniques like Muffle blasting, delay arrangements etc

Ground vibration from mine blasting is expressed by amplitude, frequency and duration of blast. The variables, which influence ground vibrations, are controllable and non-controllable. The non-controllable variables include general surface terrain, type and depth of overburden. AADHI BOOMI MINING AND ENVIRO TECH (P) LTD. Salem, Tamil Nadu (Formerly known as SURIYA MINING SERVICES) QCI/NABET Accredited Consultant Organization Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report For Thiru T.Mathimaran, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu

Similarly, the controllable variables include type of explosives, charge per delay, delay interval, direction of blast progression, burden, spacing and specific charge and coupling ratio. The oscillation of rock particles is called Particle Velocity and its value is called Peak Particle velocity (PPV), which is measured in millimetre per second. The standards for safe limit of PPV are established by Director General of Mines Safety for safe level criteria through Circular No. 7 dated 29/8/1997.

V= 417.8 {D/ (Q0.5)}-1.265 V= Peak particle velocity in mm/s D= Distance between location of blast and gauge point in m Q=Quantity of explosive per blasting in kg The safe level criteria PPV as mentioned in Circular No. 7 of DGMS is presented below:

Table 1.2 Permissible Peak Particle Velocities (mm/s) S. No. Type of Structure Dominant excitation Frequency

< 8 Hz 8 - 25 Hz > 25 Hz A) Buildings/structures not belonging to the owner 1 Domestic houses/structures 5 10 15 (Kuchcha brick and cement) 2 Industrial Buildings 10 20 25 (RCC and framed structures) 3 Objects of historical importance and sensitive 2 5 10 structure B) Buildings belonging to the owner with limited life span 1 Domestic houses/structures 10 15 25 (Kuchcha brick and cement) 2 Industrial buildings 15 25 50 (RCC & framed structures)

1.4 OBSERVATION

PPV of the trial test shows within the stipulated standards given by DGMS.

Apparatus Setup

a) Apparatus Setup

b) Trial Test

Fig 1.2 Vibration Study using Seismograph

As the distance increases the PPV value is likely to reduce. The ground vibrations generated by blasting during the proposed mining operations will be kept well within standards prescribed by DGMS by controlled blasting. By adopting controlled blasting, the problems will be greatly minimized and the impacts will also be minimized by choosing proper detonating system, optimizing total charge and charge/delay.

1.5 MITIGATION MEASURES FOR NOISE AND VIBARTION 1. Specific charge pattern has to be designed by proper trial vibration studies with varying charge ratios 2. Charge per shot shall not exceed 2kgs as per Reg. 164 of MMR, 1961 under controlled blasting methods. 3. Milli second detonators shall be used preferably 25-50ms per delay to control vibrations. 4. Inclined holes shall minimise back brake and intensive shocks. 5. Diamond wire saw cutting and chemical blasting shall be used to cut the blocks into saleable dimensions, 6. Pre splitting techniques by isolating the production blocks from the parent rock shall be practised to break the travel of vibration from the production block. 7. In case of development work if any, cushion blasting and Deck loading system shall be adopted to minimise throw of fragments and ground vibration. 8. Air blast due to usage of Detonating Cord with 10gm/m shall be reduced to 5gms/m to minimise air reverberation. 9. Noise barrier trees shall be planted all around the mine lease boundary. 10. If the vibration still exceeds the limit a long Trench to a depth of 6m may cut in the direction of wave’s movement to break longitudinal waves which travel close to surface, preferably near mine buffer zone. 11. No deep hole blasting shall be practised 12. Heavy machineries with high ground pressure shall not be used in the quarry 13. In spite of all measures periodical testing of vibration and noise using approved seismograph by DGMS has to be followed as a part of Environmental monitoring.

Though all mitigation measures are pointed out, as such no adverse effects on human life, wild life and other biotic system.

2. ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY AADHI BOOMI MINING AND ENVIRO TECH (P) LTD. Salem, Tamil Nadu (Formerly known as SURIYA MINING SERVICES) QCI/NABET Accredited Consultant Organization Biodiversity Impact Assessment Report For Thiru T.Mathimaran, Tirunelveli District,Tamil Nadu

The major adverse impacts due to pre-mininig and mining phases are loss of habitat, biodiversity, rare flora and fauna, fisheries and other aquatic life, migration of wildlife and overall disruption of the ecology of the area. During post-mining phase after land restoration, ecology may effectively improve. The impacts on biodiversity as well as environment are shown below in table.

S.No Environmental Mitigation Measures Management Plan 1 Land Use Pattern The area is comprised of black cotton soil and outcrops of Multi colour granite. The ground water table is observed at a depth of 44m in the tube wells. The Land use pattern at present and at the end of fifth year is given as below,

Pre Post Mining S.No Description Mining 1 Working Pit 0.54.65 0.54.55 2 o/B or waste ------Dump 3 Mine Roads 0.02.50 0.02.60 4 Safety and Area 0.49.03 0.49.03 under plantation 5 Labour shed and 0.05.00 0.05.00 office 6 Unutilized 0.00.82 0.00.82 Total 1.12.0Ha 1.12.0Ha 2 Rehabilitation and The proposed mining project does not involve any kind of Resettlement (R & R) Plan displacement of the population since the mining will be concentrated only in the quarry area. Not much disturbance in respect of fauna, flora and human settlement of the villages. Similarly the workings should be safe guarded from the inadvertent entry by proper fencing (S1 type) around open cast working as per DGMS circulars. The impact of proposed mining activity on the population will be insignificant. Hence, Rehabilitation of settlements is not anticipated under this

project as it will not be required. 3 Storage and utilization of Only small quantity of top soil will be dumped separately for Top Soil afforestation purposes.

4 Stabilization and Vegetation The materials to be dumped shall be very hard in nature and it of Dumps does not require any grading separately. The materials like granite rejects shall be graded automatically during dumping by Excavator and tipper combinations. Part of top soil will be spread over the Non-active dumps along the slope and edges to plant tree sapling to form vegetal cover over the dumps. Such vegetal cover will prevent erosion of dumps during rainy seasons. 5 Programme of Afforestation Regional trees like Casuarinas. Eucalyptus, Teak, Mango etc will be planted along the Lease boundary and avenues as well as over Non-active dumps at a rate of 20 trees per annum with interval 5m in between. The rate of survival expected to be 80% in this area. 6 Water Environment The monitoring of water quality has been conducted to assess the water quality characteristics, impacts on agricultural productivity, habitat conditions, creational resources and aesthetics in the vicinity. The water samples were collected from the mine and sent to lab to assess physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Bacterial examination is also carried out to find out the coliform contamination (if any) at water sources. Test Report for monitoring of surface water is enclosed in Annexure I. The Water sample does not comply with drinking water specification as per IS 10500:2012 with respect to colour, turbidity, Iron & Total Coliforms. Hence, water is not recommended for drinking purposes. It may be used for other domestic purposes. To make it for drinking, the excessive Color, Turbidity & Iron are to be removed by installing

suitable Iron removal unit. The excessive microbial count to be removed by proper treatment methods like Chlorination/Ozonization by UV radiation. 7 Air Environment Ambient air quality monitoring has been done to assess the existing levels of air pollutants as well as the regional background concentration in the project site. The parameters selected for analyzing the air quality status are Suspended Particulate Matter (PM10), Respirable Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen oxides (NOx). The sampling was done continuously on an 8 hr basis. Respirable dust sampler and Fine particulate sampler were used to determine the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere. No gaseous matter found to be generated in the proposed area except dust generation. Dust expected to be generated from drilling, hauling roads, place of excavation etc will be suppressed by periodical wetting of land by spraying using

MgCl2 solutions. Wet drilling and dust extractor arrangements will be provided to drilling units so as to control raise of dust from the site of drilling. Operators, those exposed directly to such conditions will be provide such protective equipments like mask, ear plug, helmet, gloze etc as per the Mines Act. However, Existing Ambient Air Quality scenario is found to be well within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (CPCB). The data thus obtained is considered for preparing this report. Test Report is enclosed in Annexure – II. 8 Tailing dam No ground water discharge or slurry from the mine and thereby no tailing or settling tank required for this mine except a small pit for decanting the slurry water. 9 Soil Environment Soil is one of the most significant ecological component on which plants depend for their nutrients; water and mineral

supply. Further, the unsustainable mining activities affect the natural status of soil regime of the surrounding areas directly or indirectly. Hence, it becomes important to study the soil quality with respect to physico-chemical characteristic which is essential for the planning of developmental work and implementation of afforestation. The purpose of this study is to:  Assess the soil characteristics for critical parameters,  Evaluate the impacts on agricultural productivity, habitat conditions, creational resources and aesthetics in the vicinity and  Prediction of impact on soil quality by project activities. Keeping the above facts in view, to assess the impact on soil in and around the study area, the effect on agricultural field, baseline soil quality of the area has been evaluated with respect to physical and chemical parameters. Soil test report is enclosed in Annexure – III.

The pH of the soil found to be 8.01 indicating moderately alkaline in nature. The soil colour is Yellowish brown. Sand, Silt and Gravel dominated the study area with sand & silt constitutes 58.29 % and Gravel 17.70 %. Bulk Density of the soil found to be 1.30 g/cc. The Water Holding Capacity of the soil is found to be 1.10%. The data thus obtained is considered for preparing this report.

10 Waste Management The waste to be generated shall be debris of portable size hard rock without any clay soil and connate water and therefore collapse of dumps is not possible for this mine. Small pieces of granite shall be used for tile and monument industries. Huge

gang saw size blocks shall be used for making slabs etc as well as for exports. 11 Socio-economic benefits The mine area does not cover any habitation. Hence the mining activity does not involve any displacement of human settlement. No public buildings, places, monuments etc exist within the lease area or in the surrounding area. The mining operation will not disturb/ relocate any village or need resettlement. Thus no adverse impact is anticipated. The impact of mining activity in the area is positive on the socio- economic environment of the region. Melambasamudaram Village is providing employment to local population and it will be give preference to the local people whenever there is requirement of man power.

2.1 Flora

The baseline flora and fauna has been depicted below in table. There is no forest area in the core zone. The vegetation in the buffer zone is mainly of the shrub variety. As the mining activity is to the core zone, no impact on the flora of the buffer zone due to the proposed mining activities is anticipated.

It is proposed to include regional trees like Casuarinas. Eucalyptus, Teak, Mango etc… in the plantation program as they serve as sinks for gaseous emissions.

Plantation will be done along the lease boundary and avenues as well as over non-active dumps at a rate of 20 trees per annum with interval 5m in between. The rate of survival expected to be 80% in this area. Extensive plantation comprising of pollutant resistant trees is undertaken, which will serve not only as pollution sink but also as a noise barrier. It is expected that with the adoption of these mitigatory measures, the impact due to operation of the mine will be minimal on the terrestrial ecosystem.

Table 2.1.Trees Common S.No Photo Local Name Botanical Name Name

Indian beech, 1 Pungai Millettia pinnata Pongam oil tree

Scholar Tree, Dita bark, Devil 2 Paalai Alstonia scholaris tree, Blackboard Tree

3 Puli Tamarind Tamarindus indicus

4 Veppam Neem Azadirachta indica

Casuarina 5 Savuku Casuarina equisetifolia forsk

6 Panai Brab Tree Borassus flabellifer

Table : 2.2 SHRUBS

Chinese Date, Korean 5 Elanthai Date, Ziziphus jujuba Indian Date, or Red Date

Chaff- 6 Nayuruvi Achyranthes aspera flower

Giant milk 7 Erukku Calotropis gigantea weed

2.2 Fauna

The adverse impacts on fauna would be mainly due to Human activity, Noise, vibration and Land Degradation. The impact on the fauna of the buffer zone due to the mining activity will be marginal. The proposed progressive plantation with over a period of time will create conditions favourable for fauna.

Table 2.2 Baseline Fauna

S.No Photo Common Name Local Scientific Name Name 1 Rabbit Muyal Oryctolagus cuniculus

2 Millipedes Maravattai Diplopoda

3 Centipedes Pooran Chilopoda

4 Rat Elli Rattus

5 Scorpion Thel Scorpiones

7 Butterfly Pattampoochi Rhopalocera

9 Squirrel Anil Sciuridae

10 Lizard Palli Lacertilia

Signature of the Applicant Signature of RQP/ EIA Coordinator (Mining)

ANNEXURE – I WATER TEST REPORT

ANNEXURE – II AMBIENT AIR MONITORING

ANNEXURE – III SOIL TEST REPORT

AADHI BOOMI MINING AND ENVIRO TECH (P) LTD. Salem, Tamil Nadu (Formerly known as SURIYA MINING SERVICES) QCI/NABET Accredited Consultant Organization