Proponent: Mr.S.T. Ravichandran, Silica Sand Mine, District

PROPOSAL FOR SPECIFIC TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Proponent, Mr.S.T. Ravichandran, is operating a Silica Sand mine over an extent of 2.32.5 Ha in S.F.No: 160/4C etc.., of Thanikottagam Village, Taluk, , . The Proceedings was granted by Commissioner of Geology and Mining, Guindy, Chennai vide R.C.No.724 /MM3/2004 dated 08.07.2004. The lease deed was executed on 01.12.2004 and the mining operation commenced on 17.09.2005 and the lease will expire on 30.11.2024.

The last scheme of mining period from 2010-2011 to 2014-2015 expired. Hence, the proponent prepared scheme of mining for the next plan period 2015-16 to 2019-2020 and submitted for approval.

The mining is carried out manually with simple opencast method of mining by engaging labours with help of crow bars, hand shovel, pick axes and cane baskets. Loading is carried out manually and transportation of mineral from the mine to the plant is through hired tippers. As the mineral is soft in nature, no drilling and blasting are required. Maximum production capacity is 11750 MT/annum. The lease area is not an agricultural land and the area is classified as Patta land. The project cost is about Rs.22 lakh and EMP cost is Rs.1.70 lakhs.

The proponent had not done any production during 2015-2016. The targeted production level could not be maintained because of flexibility of the market demands.

In view of delayed application and as the proponent had not obtained prior environment clearance under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 the project falls under violation case as per MoEFCC Notification No S.O 804(E) dated 14.03.2017 and the proponent applied to EAC, New Delhi on 11.01.2018 vide Proposal No: IA/TN/MIN/72183/2018. In view of the Office memorandum vide F. No. Z-11013/22/2017- IA.II (M) dated 16.03.2018, I hereby resubmit the proposal under violation case to the SEIAA/SEAC as I have submitted my proposal on the Ministry’s portal after 13th September, 2017.

To Assess the quantum of Ecological damage, a specific ToR is framed to assess the ecological damage, frame the remediation plan, natural and community resource augmentation plan as detailed below,

Proponent: Mr.S.T. Ravichandran, Silica Sand Mine, Nagapattinam District

SPECIFIC TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

1. Project Description:

Project description, proponent details, Year wise production, financial outlay and its importance and the benefits

2. Site details of the Project

Project site details (location, topography, Toposheet of the study area of 10 km, coordinates, Google map, layout map, land use, geological features and geo-hydrological status of the study area, drainage pattern etc),

3. Lease particulars, surface rights, R&R Plan etc :

Land particulars, lease details, status of applicant, ownership, Reclamation of land and Rehabilitation if any.

4. Forest, Wild life and Eco sensitive zones

Forest and Wildlife and eco-sensitive zones, if any in the study area of 10 km - Clearances required under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and/or the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. CRZ Notifications if any.

5. Base line Environmental Studies

Baseline environmental study in respect of Ambient air (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO & CO), water (both surface and ground), noise and soil at maximum of 5 locations covering both core and buffer zones.

6. Ecological/Socio economic Studies

Details on flora and fauna including endangered species if any and socio-economic aspects of the study area.

7. Impact Assessment studies

Likely impact of the project on the environmental parameters (ambient air, surface and ground water, land, flora and fauna and socio-economic,, Hydro geological Assessment (Hydro geological study shall be done to find out the depth at which water table exists. The effect of mining on the surrounding water sources can also be analyzed).

8. Water requirement and waste water Management

Source of water for different identified purposes with the permissions required from the concerned authorities. Treatment, reuse and disposal of waste water.

Proponent: Mr.S.T. Ravichandran, Silica Sand Mine, Nagapattinam District

9. Solid Waste management

Management of solid waste and the construction & demolition waste for the project vis-a-vis the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Construction & Demolition Rules, 2016.

10. Energy conservation

Energy efficient measures (LED lights, solar power, etc) during construction as well as during operational phase of the project,

11. Ecological damage Assessment:

Assessment of ecological damage with respect to air, water, land and other environmental attributes. The collection and analysis of data shall be done by an environmental laboratory duly notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, or an environmental laboratory accredited by NABL, or a laboratory of a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institution working in the field of environment.

12. EMP including Remediation Plan

Preparation of EMP comprising remediation plan and natural and community resource augmentation plan corresponding to the ecological damage assessed and economic benefits derived due to violation.

13. Financial Guarantee:

Estimate quantum of ecological damage, economics and financial assurance by Bank guarantee to complete the EMP as proposed based on various Impact Assessments of ecological damage.

Mr.S.T. Ravichandran, (Project Proponent