Khasra No. 1262 Village Panihar, Tehsil Grid, District Gwalior (MP)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ON
RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
OF
M/s SMT. KUNWAR RANI AYODHYA SINGH IRON ORE MINE Khasra No. 1262 Village Panihar, Tehsil Grid, District Gwalior (MP)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In these days of infrastructural growth and growth in automobile sector with high production efficiency demand for iron ore has increased.
The mine under consideration is for extracting iron ore by adopting open cast technique.
Location
Khasra No. 1262 Village Panihar, Tehsil Grid, District Gwalior (MP)
The lease area is located at a distance of about 19 kms south-west of Gwalior city. It is about 4 kms from the Agra – Mumbai National highway. It is situated ο / // ο / // ο / // within the coordinated 78 02 62 to 78 02 42 longitude and 26 04 63 to ο / // 26 05 23 N latitudes. The climate of the region is quite good. The maximum ο ο and minimum temperature is around 45 οο and 9.6 Celsius, recorded during May and January, respectively. The annual precipitation ranges from 750 to 1000 mm, which is received mostly during July to October.
Address
SMT. KUNWAR RANI AYODHYA SINGH IRON ORE MINE 6, USHA COLONY, LASHKAR, GWALIOR (MP)
Annual Installed Capacity
Iron ore 20,000 MT/YEAR
Work Force
a. Management staff 10 b. Non-Management staff 40
Lease area
The mining lease area is 20. 235 Ha.
Methodology of Mining
Mining will be carried out by open cast mining method using hand tools and suitable and necessary machinery for drilling of blast holes, excavation and loading of mineral into truck dumper. Drilling and blasting will be done only for removing the capping of hematite.
EMP has been developed to mitigate the impact on environment.
(a) Impact on Land Use and Soil
It has been noted that the land use is showing rapid changes overall in periphery due to mining activity. Open cast mining disturbs the land environment unless it is not supported by proper reclamation measures. The leasehold area will not undergo any topographical changes as mining is already undergoing in the lease area. At the end of the lease period topography of the area will change thus backfilling has been planned in that way. Restoration of original counters is not possible after ore extraction.
Management has planned to develop thick green belt in the area and hence there is low level of weathering and soil erosion. Smt. Kunwar Rani Ayodhya Singh Iron Ore Mine will take appropriate action for plantation inside and outside the premises. This will not only reduced soil erosion but shall also act as air purifier and control the air pollution further.
The various solid waste will be collected at the point of origin and will be disposed off through the registered vendor. Thus there is little or no chance for land pollution due to solid wastes. For on-site storage of solid waste, management has already planned a proper arrangement.
Further following measures will be implemented: a. Vegetation will be removed from the specific site where extraction is to be take place. b. Guidelines of DGMS for blasting is to be followed strictly to control vibration. c. Garland drains should surround all dumps. d. Maximum utilization of sub-grade material should be practice. e. During blasting warning signals should be given over the entire regions within the danger zone.
f. Carry out blasting after ensuring that all persons have taken proper shelter. g. Wet drilling is to be done in hand holes as well as jack hammer drilling. h. Suitable air respirator is to provided to drillers.
(b) Impact on Surface Water
The impact can be discussed under following three sub-heads:
(i) Physical characteristics,
(ii) Chemical Nature, and
(iii) Biological Nature.
The analysis of water samples for physical, chemical and biological parameters indicate that ground water in the study area, in general, is not polluted.
The pathogenic bacteria in water can be controlled by adding chlorine artificially as chlorine tablet, hypochlorite, and chlorine gas. Even simply enclosing a well and replacing the dirty rope and bucket with a less easily contaminated hand-pump, providing puckka platforms at well/hand pump sites where the users normally wash clothes, utensils, etc. And taking them away from the source by a natural drain. This can dramatically reduce the number of pathogenic bacteria and hence the incidence rate of contagious diseases.
No surface water course exist in the area therefore there will be no effect of mining on the water regime. Depth of the ground water level is around 22 meters. The ground water structures fall under dug well, bore well and tube well.
The rain water may get accumulated in the working pit. Dewatering of the accumulated water in the working pit will be done by pump having motor rating of 5 HP. Rain water will be used for agriculture purpose in the surrounding.
The iron ore will not affect the quality of ground water because the proposed mining will not touch the ground water.
Further the organization has proposed to take following measures to minimize any negative impact of mining on water environment. Drain water to be passed through the settling tank so that heavy particles will settle. Thus siltation of agriculture fields will be avoided up to some extent. No adverse effect on the quality of under ground water has been noticed due to the mining activity. c. Impact on Air Environment
Various activities which contribute to SPM in the study area are: a. Mining activity b. Drilling and blasting operations c. Loading and unloading of excavated material d. Haulage of material over roads
About 200 liters of HSD shall be consumed at the project daily, which has insignificant contribution to SO 2 concentration in the atmospheres.
Drilling and blasting operations are source of fugitive dust emission which is mostly localized.
Fugitive emissions take place loading of mineral. The dust on the haul road within and outside the mining area are suppressed by sprinkling water through the tanker. Background concentration of SPM at all receptors are insignificant.
Following measures are adopted to further minimize the negative impact due to mining activity: a. Use of water sprinkling system for the mine road for dust suppression. b. Development of green belt in and around the mine. c. No overcharging is allowed during blasting operation. d. maintenance of haulage road.
In additions, a. Dust masks and helmets are provided to all workers. b. Avoid overloading to tuck / lorry. d. Noise Environment
The noise level in other different parts of the mine, as measured, is under control. Earmuffs, ear plugs are provided to workers working in high noise area. It is ensure that equipments and machinery used for various activities are provided with proper silencer.
Regular maintenance is being carried out. Road side plantations shall be a part of the regular activity. Drilling and blasting is done only during day time. f. Socio-Economic Environment
With the establishment of industries or mines in this area, a western culture has been adopted by the local inhabitants. They have now modern electrical and electronic gadgets. The villagers now enjoy good food, they have better choice and the yield from agriculture field has increased markedly. The villagers have better choice for employment.
The facility for education and medical is locally available within 20 kms. They have all modern communication and transportation facility. These observations and the study indicate positive impact of industries on the socio- economic aspect of the area. g. Green belt development
The tree plantation around mine and on road side shall abate pollutants and the taller tree species protect the surrounding areas by acting as a barrier for pollutants. Thus, the management is putting in serious effort to create the greenery in and around the periphery of its factory premises.
The company has planted a number of trees and shrubs of various types that include, Neem, Ashoka, Gulmohar, etc., in and around the factory premises.
h. Hazard Control
To avoid any hazards and accidents due to drilling, blasting, transportation and other allied mining activities, management has taken following administrative and design controls.
a. Administrative Control
1. Work Instruction 2. Operational Control Procedures i.e., Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 3. Training to all employees on safety and storage of explosives 4. Emphasis on segregation of different explosives based on flammability, toxicity, hazard nature, oxidizable property etc. 5. On-site Emergency Management Plan has been established 6. Calibration and testing of gauges, etc are done regularly 7. Acceptable working conditions for operators 8. Emergency services are provided 9. Emergency escape routes to on-site emergency personnel 10. Control access of unauthorised personnel at the Main Gate 11. Proper warehousing management system 12. Proper labelling of explosive containers 13. Proper recording of inventories of on-site explosive 14. Marking of emergency escape routes to on-site emergency personnel 15. Classification and segregation of compatible, hazardous materials to avoid overlap of these areas. 16. Prior approval is required from Manager – Production before carrying out any blasting and drilling operations. 17. Adequate signaling arrangement and devises is provided to the guard to control vehicular movement. 18. Training courses are arrenged on regular basis. b. Design Control
1. Personnel Protective Equipments are provided 2. Drain around dumps are provided. 3. Fire fighting systems 1. Lighting protection 2. Earthing pits 3. Hazardous materials facilities or storage site far from process site c. Operational Control
1. Wet drilling in practice. 2. The overcharging of drilling holes is not allowed. 3. Necessary precautions such as alarming the peoples by whistling are in practice before blasting. 4. Blasting to be done only during day time. 5. Blast holes to be charged with special gelatin with proper stemming to avoid misfire. 6. Water from surface water bodies not to be allowed in the mine. 7. Drain mine water with suitable pump. 8. Regular testing and maintenance is done for all mining equipments.
The study and survey of the area indicate that the study area is not close to any protected area, metropolitan or big cities (Gwalior is about 19 km), dense population, airport (Gwalior airport is about 25 km), railway station (walior railway station is about 25 km), historical monuments, national parks, forest reserve, health resorts, zoological and botanical gardens, etc., thus the site is suitable for mining activity.
The study also revel that there is no adverse impact due to the present mining activity. M/s SMT. KUNWAR RANI AYODHYA SINGH IRON ORE MINE has efficient pollution control system for both air and water which ensures that the activity of industry will not affect the environment.