Bhilai Steel Plant

BRIEF WRITE UP OF THE PROJECT

1.0 Title of the Project Environment Clearance for Pandridalli and Rajhara Pahar Lease ( 220.42 Ha) of Bhilai Steel Plant, M/s Steel Authority of India Limited ( SAIL ), for Capacity 3.5 MTPA at Iron Ore Complex (IOC) Dalli Rajhara, Distt Balod, Chhattisgarh-State 2.0 Location / Site Alternatives under Consideration: M/s Bhilai steel plant (BSP), a subsidiary of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), is having Pandridalli and Rajhara Pahar Lease for excavation of Iron ore over an area of 220.42 hect at Iron Ore Complex (IOC)- Dalli-Rajhara in Balod Distt of Chhattisgarh State. The mines is in operation from 01-June-1958 Location and Extent of Area: • The area falls in the Survey of India Topo Sheet No, 64 H/2 near village Pandridalli in the District Balod of Chhattisgarh state and is having the latitude and longitude as given below: Latitude : 20° 33’ 00” to 20° 35’ 00” N Longitude : 81° 04’ 45” to 81° 07’03” E • The lease is situated at about 95 km towards south from Bhilai Steel Plant, • It is well connected by SH-9 in west of the lease and to Bhilai/Durg by rail (Dalli Rajhara railway station is about 2.5 km west of the lease.

Pandridalli and Rajhara Pahar Lease on Google Map 3.0 Topography: Rajhara deposit occurring in Pander Dalli & Rajhara Pahar lease hold constitutes the eastern edge of Dalli Rajhara Iron Ore belt stretching for about 4.5 Kms roughly east west direction. The topography is undulating plains surrounded with medium height hills. The forest in the area comes under Dondi Lohra Forest Range .The general elevation of the ground is 425 meters mRL, in northern side and 370 MRL in SE side of hill. Also maximum height attained by the hillock is nearly 580 mRL. The iron ores are associated with Phyllites /shale at top and Banded Haematite Quartzite at the bottom.

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Bhilai Steel Plant 4.0 Mining Lease Area Total lease area comprises of 220.42 hect (Reserve forest 100.76 hect. & Revenue land 119.66 Hect at Iron Ore Complex (IOC) - Dalli-Rajhara in Balod Distt of Chhattisgarh State. 5.0 Geology & Reserve: The iron ore deposits of the Dalli-Rajhara range are associated with the banded ferruginous formations belonging to the Chilpi formations of Pre-Cambrian age, generally known as the iron ore series of the Dharwarian System. (Dharwarian system forms a wide crescent shaped structure extending from eastern India to central India. In the eastern part, the iron ore series is locally known as Singhbhum and Bonai iron ore series and Gangpur series; whereas in the Western part, it is locally known as the Dalli- Rajhara iron ore series and Bailadilla series.) Total expletory bore hole drilled was 155 no’s and the Ore reserve balance at present 30.06 MT with Fe% 65.39, SiO2 % 3.79, Al2O3 % 1.39. Sub-grade ore reserve balance is 2.54 MT with Fe % 50.74, SiO2 % 18.81 & Al2O3 % 3.87 6.0 Present Lease Status & Forestry Clearance Status Mining Lease renewed by MRD, Govt of Chhattisgarh VIDE F 3-42/2003/12, for a period from 28.04.2003 to 27.04.2023 over an area of 220.42 hect. & Forestry Clearance granted by MOEF& CC, GoI vide F.N0.8-58/2003-fc dated-6/4/2004, over an area of 100.76 hect making it coterminous to mining lease up to 27.04.2023. Air & Water consent available for the mining lease. 7.0 Objectives: Obtained Environment Clearance for Pandridalli and Rajhara Pahar Lease over an area of 220.42 hect for Excavation of Iron ore capacity 3.5 MTPA & transport the same to the adjacent lease for beneficiation. At present mines excavation capacity is only 2.00 MTPA 8.0 Need of the Project M/s Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL/(BSP), a Government of India Enterprise, Eleven (11) - times proud winner of Prime Minister's Trophy for best Integrated Steel Plant in the country, Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) is engaged in manufacture of Iron and Steel including rails and heavy steel plates and major producer of structural. The Bhilai Steel Plant is the sole suppliers of the country’s longest rail tracks of 260 m. Bhilai Steel Plant (CG) are producing 5.25 Million Ton per Annum (MTPA). BSP has its own mines to fulfill the requirements of iron ore, dolomite and limestone. SAIL has embarked upon a massive modernization and expansion plant to sustain its present share in future. After modernization and expansion SAIL will witness a quantum jump in hot metal production from 15 to 26.2 MTPA. The mines are captive source of supply iron to Bhilai Steel Plant, and dependent on the quantity and qualitative requirement for Hot Metal production which influences the planned Iron Ore excavation level in order to meet the requirement of the steel plant 9.0 Mining and Production Process At present the mines is operated in 3 shifts for 310 days in a year. The mine is a fully developed mechanized mine operated through standard open-pit technology with deployment of Heavy Earthmoving equipment and other auxiliary equipment. The existing operating benches have been designed / laid out in commensuration with the operating dimensional parameters of the equipment deployed in the mine. Mine is being developed in order to excavate 3.5 MTPA of ore. The stripping ratio will be at 2:1 will be maintained. Excavation is carried out by conventional shovel-dumper combination using 4.6 cu. m. capacity electric rope shovel / 5.5 cu. m. capacity hydraulic shovel and 50 T capacity rear dump BEML / HM dumpers. The haulage of ore and waste is carried out through the haul roads having minimum 18 m width and ramps having minimum 1:16 gradient. Presently ore is transported directly to crusher located at 480.8 MRL in Rajhara Hill Lease of the company with an average lead of 2.8 km. Waste is being hauled to distance waste dump with average lead of 2.5 km. In order to maintain the stability of waste dump it is proposed to keep the slope of the waste dump at 28°,

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Bhilai Steel Plant suitable terrace width not less than 20m at 30m vertical interval will be maintained as far as practicable. It is intended to that mined out areas would be leveled and rehabilitated by afforesting suitable species of trees. The company has constructed 2 no’s of dams namely Boirdih and Rajhara Dam site for supply of drinking water, sprinkling in the haul road and for afforestation. The annual water requirement for the proposed mines complex is 400 m³ per day i.e around 1, 24,000 m³/annum; total water requirement is meeting from Rajhara Dam site. Proposed method of mining and deployment of machinery: Presently no change is proposed in method of mining, however a possibility of enhancing equipment size particularly shovel and dumpers for enhancing capacity of mines in present setup is explored. In near future it is expected that higher capacity dumper up to 60/80 T, pay load capacity may be introduced with matching volumetric capacity of shovel for achieving the proposed rate of excavation at Rajhara Mechanized Mine . It also proposes to provide one mobile crusher capacity of 1 MTPA within the lease hold area to accommodate excess ore after modernization & capacity enhancement of the mine. Also there is possibility of outsourcing of part excavation of ore and waste in order to meet the immediate ore requirements for production of Hot Metal in post MODEX scenario and delayed Rowghat Project of Bhilai Steel Plant. The ultimate pit has been prepared by toe-ramp-crest method and worked between 283 -533 mRL. Mine worked 470 mRL-570 mRL. The ultimate pit shell has been designed so that statutory obligation of working 7.5 m inside the mining lease boundary. The ultimate pit slope has been maintained at lift of every 30 m, for this purpose varying berm width has been used in batch of 3 benches. Present lower most working in Rajhara is 383mRL. Manpower available to operate the mines: Executive: 90 & Non Executive: 535 no excess man power is required to operate in 3.50 MTPA capacity The Land use of ML area

The existing land use pattern indicating the area already degraded due to mining

DESCRIPTION AREA (HA) 1 Area under excavation 119.94 2 Dumps (raw ore, process ore. Sub grade ore & waste) 41.97 3 Infrastructure (plant, office, workshop etc) 0.32 4 Roads, rails line, water pipeline 3.50 Afforestation (including, reclaimed area of old dumps & mined out 5 8.57 area) 6 Area covered with bushes & grasses 12.98 7 Undisturbed area 13.11 8 Other area not considered for reclamation and rehabilitation 20.03 TOTAL 220.42

7.0 Baseline Environmental Status Present Status: A well established Environment Monitoring Lab of BSP is exists in the Iron Ore Complex, Dalli- Rajhara. Day-to-Day monitoring was conducted for Air Environment. Water quality is monitored through joint sampling on monthly basis by CECB & BSP officials. Noise and vibration study 3

Bhilai Steel Plant conducted on regular basis. The remedial measures/action is taken on urgent basis. Afforestation is done in and around mining lease area annually. The monthly Environment compliance reports are sent to SAIL Board. CSR activities like organizing medical camp, Education of adopted tribal students at IOC Rajhara for 120 tribal students and provision of other infrastructures to the buffer zone villages. EIA/EMP Bhilai Steel Plant, M/s SAIL to assess the physical environmental components like air, water, noise, land and biological quality, socio economic status in the surrounding area covering 10 km radius around the mines site and to prepare EIA/EMP report is engaged ABC Techno Labs India Private Limited, Accredited by National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET), a division of Quality Council of India (QCI) S.No.2 Description of Environnent

Meteorology Predominant wind was from South-west quadrant. Wind velocity was ranging from <1.0 to 24.6 Kmph. Temperature values were ranging from 16.5 °C to 43.0 °C. The mean relative humidity value was found to be ranging from 35.4 – 69.9 %.Sky was clear during the study period. A total rainfall of 11.2 cm was recorded during the study period

Air Environnent

Pre Monsoon (March – May 2015)

Core-zone: PM10 and PM2.5 values were ranging between 48 and 83 µg/m 3 and 20 and 38 µg/m 3 3 respectively. The SO 2 and NO x values were ranging between 14.8 and 22.6 µg/m and 21.2 and 28.3 µg/m 3 respectively. Buffer zone (March – May 2015): PM10 and PM2.5 values were ranging between 37 and 86 µg/m 3 and 16 and 39 µg/m 3 respectively. The SO2 and NOx values were ranging between 8.2 and 22.7 µg/m 3 and 10.3 and 28.3 µg/m 3 respectively. All CO values except in three locations in (core zone & crushing plant) were found to be below the detectable limit of <114.5 µg/m 3. The maximum CO value observed was found to be <572.5 µg/m 3. All heavy metal, Benzene and BAP values were found to be Below Detectable Limit. There is a traceable amount of NH 3 and O 3, which is negligible while comparing with the prescribed AAQ standards. Based on the above discussions, it may be concluded that air quality data was found to be well within the prescribed limit.

Noise Levels

Core Zone: The Day and night time Leq Noise levels were ranging from 64.9 dB (A) to 65.8 dB (A) and 57.9 dB (A) to 58.2dB (A) respectively.

Buffer Zone: The Day and night time Leq Noise levels were ranging from 48.6dB (A) to 66.4dB (A) and 36.5dB (A) to 57.1dB (A) respectively.

The Noise level values were found to be well within the CPCB limit prescribed by CPCB.

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Bhilai Steel Plant Water Environment

Ground water At all locations, pH values were in the range of 7.19 – 7.83 with agreeable colour, taste and odour. Chloride and Sulphate values were in the range of 112 – 392 mg/l and 68 – 246 mg/l respectively. Hardness values were found to be in the range of 271 – 1033 mg/l. The maximum Flouride value reported was 0.18 mg/l. At all locations, oil and grease, phenolic compounds, cyanides, sulphides and insecticides were found to be absent and all heavy metal except iron values were found to be below the detection limit. The maximum Iron value was found to be 0.16 mg/l. At all location the Total Coliforms found to be absent.

Surface water pH values were found to be in the range of 7.35 - 7.67. At all locations Oil & Grease, Phenols, Cyanides, Sulphides and insecticides were found to be absent and most of the heavy metals values were found to be below the detectable limits. The low level of BOD and COD values shows that the surface water is not contaminated due to other pollution sources and human activities.

Hydrogeology The Hydrogeology study reveals that the pre-monsoon water levels vary from 2.46 m to 9.95 m with an average of 7.35 m and the post-monsoon water levels vary from 0.85 m to 8.86 m with an average of 4.68 m. The average water fluctuation in the area was found to be 2.67 m. As per, CGWA norms, the trends reveal that the groundwater exploitation in the study area is well within the acceptable limits.

Land-use Pattern Remote sensing satellite Imageries were collected and interpreted for the 10 Km radius study area with project site as centre. Based on the satellite data land -use / land cover maps have been prepared delineated in chapter III of EIA/EMP report.

Flora & Fauna The environment has not supported foreign visitor birds since the entire zone (core and buffer) is devoid of large water bodies. There are no ecologically sensitive/fragile areas such as Wild life Sanctuaries, National Parks, and adjoining National Monuments, areas of cultural heritage, ecologically fragile areas, areas rich in biological diversity, gene pool, etc. located on the proposed stretch. There are no known rare, endangered or ecologically significant animal and plant species. Except for a few wild species of plants and grasses and a few animals that are very commonly spotted in any rural environment, the study area does not have any endangered or endemic species of animals and plants.

Socio economic As per 2011 census, the study area consisted of 32299 persons inhabited in 37 villages. The configuration of male and females indicates that the males constitute to about 49.34% and females to about 50.66% of the study area population. The study area at an average has 1027 females per 1000 males. In the study area 9.52 % of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes (SC) while 45.29 % to Scheduled Tribes (ST), thus indicating that about 54.81% of the population is formed by SC and ST population. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe sections are predominant in this area. The study area experiences a

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Bhilai Steel Plant moderate literacy rate of 78.05%. The male literacy i.e. the percentage of literate males to the total males of the study area is observed as 62.06% while female literacy rate, which is an important indicator for social change, is observed as 69.95 % in the study area. The total workers found are 46.87 % of total population which contributes 32.93% of main workers and 21.05% of marginal workers. The non-workers were found be 46.01%. The cultivators are the major working group among main workers which found is 58.02%. The Educational facilities, Healthcare facilities, Water supply, Communication facilities, Banking facilities, Road and Transportation facilities, availability of newspapers & magazines etc., are available in the area. The power supply for agriculture and household purpose are available in most of the villages. The hand pumps and bore wells are available in most of the villages. Dalli Rajhara is the nearest town for almost all villages in the study area. Medical and Engineering colleges are available in Raipur and Durg which is 125 & 90Km distances from the study area respectively. A well equipment 50 beds Hospitals is being run and maintain at Rajhara by SAIL- BSP. The Hospital is having facilities like mini ICU, Operation Theatre, X- Ray, pathological lab, Ultra sound, specialties doctors etc. with 04 numbers of Ambulances. The Villagers in the study area still cultivate their land in a traditional pattern and they are dependent mostly upon seasonal rain. These BSP projects have directly or indirectly created various opportunities of employment in the region. Green Belt around Mine

In the directions where natural forest does not exist, there is need for creating green belt of adequate width as an effective dust and sight curtain in the periphery of mining area. The trees planted in the green belt area shall act as buffers and shock absorber against dusts, noise and stone flying. The trees in the green belt will be tall, wind firm, broad leaved and evergreen.

A green belt of adequate width on either side of the haul road will be raised and the existing vegetation will be protected. The plants will be raised at spacing of 2.0 x 2.0 meter. Along the roads other than the haul roads also, dust resistant plants as mentioned above will be planted.

Public Hearing The Public Hearing for the ML area of Pandridalli and Rajhara Pahar Lease (220.42 Ha) of Bhilai Steel Plant, M/s SAIL for Capacity 3.5 MTPA ROM at Iron Ore Complex (IOC) Dalli-Rajhara, Tehsil: Dondi Distt Balod, Chhattisgarh-State has been conducted on 27th October, 2017 in village “Salhe” Balod district in accordance with Ministry of Environment and forest, Government of India, EIA notification issued by MoEFCC vide S.O. 1533, dated 14th September 2006 and subsequent amendments. The press notification indicating date and venue of the public hearing was issued by Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) in two of the prominent newspapers, viz. ‘Times of India’, New Delhi on 24.09.2017 and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’, Raipur on 23.09.2017. Chhattisgarh Environmental Conservation Board, Raipur in their letter No 4760/TS/CECB/2017 dated 01.12.2017 has forwarded the proceedings of PH along with other documents and CD’s of video recording to Secretory MOEFCC, GOI. There are 96 written application and 89 personal representations during the public hearing 8.0 Conclusion: Purpose for obtaining EC is needed for the mine to operate more environment friendly, technically and economically feasible. Massive plantation, green belt development in a systematic manner and will help to increase the biodiversity of plants and birds in the area. One of our Iron ore mines has certified with ISO-14001. …………………………………………………………………………………

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