DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT Page Chapter Content No. 1. Introduction 1 2. Overview of Mining/ Quarrying Activity in the District 4 3. General Profile of the District 11 4. Geology and Mineral Wealth of the District 12 5. Drainage of Irrigation pattern 21 6. Land Utilisation Pattern in the District: Forest, Agricultural, 25 Horticultural, Mining etc., 7. Surface Water and Ground Water scenario of the District 28 8. Rainfall of the District and climatic condition 29 9. Details of quarrying Leases in the District 34 10. Details of Revenue and Production in last three years 34 11. Mineral Map of the District 35 12. List of Letter of Intent (LOI) Holder in the District along with 36 its validity 13. Total Mineral Reserve available in the district 36 14. Quality/Grade of Mineral available in the district 37 15. Use of Mineral 37 16. Demand and supply of the Mineral in the last three years 37 17. Mining Leases marked on the map of the district 38 18. Details of the area of where there is a cluster of the mining 40 leases 19. Details of Eco-sensitive area 40 20. Impact on the environment due to Mining activity 40 21. Remedial measures to mitigate the impact of mining on the 40 environment 22. Reclamation of the mined out area 44 23. Risk assessment & Disaster Management Plan 44 24. Details of Occupational health issue in the District 45 25. Plantation and Green belt development in respect of leases 45 already granted in the district 26. Any other information 46

Page No. Figure. LIST OF FIGURE

Fig1 District Map of Salem 3 Fig 2 Geological map of and Pondicherry 12 Fig 3 Google image showing the existing major and minor mineral mines 19 / quarries along with existing ML awarded for major minerals Fig 4 Map showing the locations of fieldwork carried out along with 20 commodity Fig 5 Stages of River 23 Fig 6 Area of accumulation of sediments 24 Fig 7 Land use land cover map of Salem District 2010 27 Fig 8 Season-wise Rainfall for Salem District 31 Fig 9 Rainfall recorded for the year of 2017-18 32 Fig 10 District Rainfall map Tamil Nadu 32 Fig 11 Showing the location of Overall Mining and Quarries leases granted 38 in Salem District.

Fig 12 Showing the location of Soapstone/ Steatite Minerals 39

1. Introduction

Salem is located at 110 14’ N - 120 53’ N to 770 44’ E - 780 50’ E, at an average elevation of 278 m (912 ft). The city is surrounded by hills: Nagaramalai on the North, Jarugumalai on the south, Kanjamalai on the West, Godumalai on the East and the on the NorthEast. Kariyaperumal Hill is in SouthWestern Salem. The Thirumanimutharu River flows through the city, dividing it in two. The fort area is the oldest part of Salem.

Salem has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). January and February are generally pleasant; the hot Summer begins in March, with the year's highest temperatures during April. Pre-Monsoon thunderstorms occur during April and May. The SouthWest Monsoon season lasts from June to September. The NorthEast Monsoon occurs from October to December.

Salem is a Geologist’s paradise, surrounded by hills and the landscape dotted with hillocks. The district is rich in mineral deposits like Magnesite, Bauxite, Granite, Limestone, Quartz and Iron ore. Mining Allied industries like Cement Industry, Refractory Bricks manufacturing, Smelting Plant etc thrive well.

Latitude 110 14’ N - 120 53’ N Longitude 770 44’ E - 780 50’ E

AREA & POPULATION 1. Area (Sq.kms) 5950 2. Population 3482056 3. Population Density (Sq.kms) 665 REVENUE ADMINISTRATION 1. Divisions (4) Salem Sangakiri

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 1

2. Taluks (13) Salem Salem West Salem South Valapadi Attur P.N.Palayam Mettur Sangakiri 3. Firkas 44 4. Revenue Villages 655 LOCAL ADMINISTRATION 1. Corporation (1) Salem 2. (4) Attur Mettur Edappady Narasingapuram ( 3rd Grade ) 3. Panchayat Unions (20) Salem Veerapandi Panamarathupatty Ayothiyapattinam Valapady Yercaud Attur Gengavalli Kolathur Omalur Kadayampatty Sangakiri Magudanchavadi Edappadi 4. Town Panchayats (33) Ayothiapattanam Attayampatty Kolathur Konganapuram Mechari Omalur [District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 2

P.N.Patty P.N.Palayam Sankari Tharamangalam

Thammampatty Valapadi

Belur Eadanganasalai Gangavalli Kadayampatty Karuppur Keeripatty Mallur Panamarathupatty

Sendarapatty Thedavoor Yethapur Nangavalli Poolampatty

4. Village Panchayats (385)

Feg.1: District Map of Salem

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 3

2. Overview of Mining Activity in Salem District

Salem is a part of Western Tamil Nadu and is located at the base of the popular tourist destination of the Yercaud hills. Salem boasts large Textile, Steel, Automotive, poultry and sago industries. Salem also has one of the largest Magnesite deposits in . As per the Department of Geology and Mining, a major part of the mineral wealth of Tamil Nadu is confined to Salem District, where a variety of important minerals like Magnesite, Dunite, Bauxite, Limestone, Iron ore, Quartz, Feldspar and Soapstone, Granites etc, are found.

EXISTING LEASES IN AS ON 30.04.2019

Patta Under Sl. I.Major EC Under Patta Poramboke & Total Non- No Minerals Obtained operation Poramboke operation 1 Limestone 42 5 5 52 3 3 49

2 Magnesite & 1 2 - 3 - - 3 Dunite 3 Magnesite 2 8 - 10 2 2 8

4 Bauxite - 1 - 1 1 - 1

Total 45 16 5 66 6 5 61 II.Minor Mineral 1 Black 14 10 - 24 8 8 16 Granite 2 Colour 39 7 - 46 12 12 34 Granite 3 Rough stone 43 66 - 109 92 91 18

4 Soil/gravel 7 - - 7 7 7 0

5 Quartz & 19 3 - 22 2 2 20 Feldspar

Total 122 86 5 208 121 120 88

Grand 167 102 5 274 127 125 149 Total

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 4

In Salem district a total of 274 numbers of leases for Major and Minor minerals have been awarded as on 30.04.2019. Inrespect Major Minerals, out of which 61 were non- working due to want of EC, 6 were EC obtained and 5 were working mines. For minor minerals, a total of 208 numbers of leases were awarded as on 30.04.2019, out of which, 88 numbers were not working due to want of EC, and 120 mines were working out of 121 leases obtained EC.

DETAILS OF EXISTING MINES /QUARRIES AS ON 30.04.2019.

Number of Name of the S.No existing Extent in Hects. Mineral leases

I Major Minerals

1. Limestone 52 414.60.0

2. Magnesite 10 345.60.2

3. Magnesite and 3 1155.88.0 Dunite 4. Bauxite 1 190.84.0

Total-(A) 66 2106.92.2

II Minor Minerals

1. Black Granite 24 99.10.8

2. Colour Granite 46 143.78.5

3. Roughstone 109 160.59.0

4. Gravel 7 12.31.0

III Other 31 Minerals

1 Quartz & 22 35.31.0 Feldspar Total-(B) 208 451.10.3

Grand Total 274 2558.02.5 (A+B)

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 5

NOTIFIED MINERALS

1. BAUXITE:

Bauxite, ore of Aluminium, occur in the form of cappings in the Shevaroy hills of . The shevaroy hills are chiefly made up of the Charnockite group of rocks interBanded with metasedimentary units and cut across by dykes of dolerite. Only low grade bauxite available at the depth of maximum 2m in all the hills followed by ferruginous clay.

2. IRON ORE:

A) KANJAMALAI

The Iron ore deposits of Kanjamalai hill is of Banded Magnetite Quartzite. Kanjamalai is situated about 8 Km West of Salem Town. It is about seven kilometres long and four kilometres wide and rises to a maximum height of 986 metres above Mean sea level. The Iron ore outcrops of scattered, generally the Magnetite Quartzites occur at three distinct levels. The first or lowermost band occurs near to the base of the Kanjamalai. It can be traced over a length of some 13 Kilometres. The width is very variable (probably depending to some extent on the degree of tight folding) but the average width is about 25 metres. The second or middle band occurs some 300 metres about the plain. In outcrop it is discontinuous over its strike length of about 6 kilometres. The third and uppermost and occurs some 60 metres higher than the second band at a height of some 350 to 370 metres above ground level. The band is about 10 kilometres long (around the complete elliptical outcrop) and about 10 metres wide.

The ore in the first and second bands appears similar with an iron content of 33 to 39% Fe. In the band cropping out at the highest level the rock is much more siliceous with a much lower iron content and there is more hematite present. This rock is best described as a ferruginous Quartzite and is of less economic potential than the lower bands. The Iron ore reserves in the first band (lower band) of Kanjamalai 99.3 Million Tonnes and second band reserves (middle band) is about 50 to 60 million tonnes.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 6

A) GODUMALAI

The Godumalai hill in which the ore crops out is about 7 Kms long and about 3 Kms wide at the Eastern end but in the Western end the iron bands are only some 3 metres wide. The Iron ore bands occupy the crest of the East-West striking ridge and form a series of disjointed folds; in some areas the bands are completely folded in on themselves. The apparent thickness at the Eastern end of the hill is due to this type of tight folding. In some localities the ore is crushed, sheared and fine grained. It contains some hematite and jasper not commonly reported from the Tamil Nadu iron ores, was noted here. The average Fe content of the ore is about 34% and the estimated reserves from this area are 60 to 70 million tonnes.

3. LIMESTONE:

The crystalline limestone of Precambrian age occurs in the form of lenticular and linear bands in the Sankari Taluk which is exploited for the production of Cement by India Cements Limited, Sankari West. The calc-Gneisses and crystalline limestone represent ancient calcareous sediments which have suffered repeated metamorphism, intrusions by Granites and folding during the Archean age. The harder pink Granites which are abundant in the region stand out as hills and knolls resisting erosion. The disposition of the crystalline limestone bands in this region reveals that they maintain a structural conformity with the batholith, by a pattern of skirting around granitic mass from West to East and continuing southward from Sankaridrug to and beyond.

MAJOR MINERAL

1. MAGNESITE:

The origin and occurrence of the Magnesite deposits of the Chalk Hills in Salem District has been elaborately discussed by Mr.C.S.Middlemiss (Ref. Geological survey of India-XXIX, 31,1896). Later a short report on the mineralization of the Chettichavadi Jaghir was made by Mr.Vinayaka Rao of Geological Survey of India (Ref. Geological Survey of India L XIII, 46, 1929).

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 7

In 1939, the Magnesite Deposits of Chettichavadi Jaghir was examined in detail by Mr. A.M.Comber to justify further development of the Magnesite resources to provide raw material for a large industry, with substantial investments. The whole area is impregnated with white Magnesite veins of good quality. Hence, the area is called as Chalk Hills of Salem. The Chalk Hills of Salem mainly consists of the ultra basic suite of rocks. The Magnesite deposits of the area occur in two detached belts. The smaller belt is on the Southern side and the larger on is on the Northern side. The ultra basic suite formed due to differentiation of magma has intruded into the older metamorphic rocks of the neighbourhood consisting mainly of Biotite Hornblende Gneisses and Charnockite. The two belts of ultra basic rocks are separated by Metagabro and Charnockite rocks. Stratigraphic succession is that the older Archaen Gneisses are intruded by younger ultra basic suite of rocks-Dunite, Peridotite and Pyroxenite.

The most prominent deposit of Magnesite is located in Chalk hills of Salem over an area of 17 Sq. Kms and estimated to be 44 million tonnes. This is mined by Burn & Co (SAIL Ltd), TANMAG, Ponguru Magnesite Mines and Dalmia Bharath Sugars and Industries Limited.

MINOR MINERALS

DIMENSIONAL STONES: (Multi-Colour Granite and Black Granite)

1. MULTI- COLOUR GRANITE

Peninsular Gneiss is the rock wide spread in many parts of Salem District. The rock formation is popularly known as Granite Gneiss essentially made up of a supra crustal assemblages of Quartz and feldapar as major constituents, closely inter Banded with calc-silicate rocks and dolomite, as well as Granite Gneiss or schist, occurring within a vast area of Biotite Gneiss. The rock type is leucocratic, euhedral, medium to fine grained, equigranular texture. This rock commercially called as Imperial White and Thippu White. The rock formations are found in the area of Edappadi, Sankari, Attur and Yercaud Taluks. The total available Geological reserves in the leased out area in Salem District is 31,43,411 CBM.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 8

2. BLACK GRANITE (DOLERITE):

The Dolerite dyke rocks, commercially called as Black Granite occur in Paithur, Seeliampatty Manjini, Umayalpuram of and in Yellikaradu, Sampalli, Kaveripuram and Kannamoochi of . The Black Granites mainly occur in Attur, Gangavalli, Mettur, P.N.Palayam, Valapady and Yercaud Taluks which is extensively quarried for building and ornamental purposes,

3. ROUGH STONE / CHARNOCKITE:

The major parts of the hilly terrain of the area are formed of Charnockites of varying chemical composition from acid variety Charnockite of granitic composition (Hypersthene - Granite) to basic variety. They are mesocratic to Melanocratic, Medium to Coarse grained rocks consisting of Blue Quartz, Grey Coloured Feldspar, Hypersthene with accessory minerals like Garnets, Magnetite and Biotite. The basic Charnockite is mostly fine grained, dark coloured and occurs as thin lensoid body within the charnocktie. Charnockite is mainly used as rough stone and is being quarried for road metals, jelly and making of M-sand. The total available Geological reserves in the leased out area in Salem District is 5,34,06,589 M3.

4. Gravel:

Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel is classified by particle size range and includes size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel is categorized into granular gravel (2 to 4 mm or 0.079 to 0.157 in) and pebble gravel (4 to 64 mm or 0.2 to 2.5 in). ISO 14688 grades gravels as fine, medium, and coarse with ranges 2 mm to 6.3 mm to 20 mm to 63 mm. The Gravel/ Brick Earth/ Red soil mainly occurs in Salem, Sankari, Mettur and Attur Taluk and in and arrond in Salem District. The total available Geological reserves in the leased out area is 3,09,555 M3.

31 MINOR MINERALS

1. QUARTZ AND FELDSPAR:

Quartz and Feldspar deposits associated with Granitic Pegmatites occur in various places of Sankari, Omalur, Mettur and Edappady taluk. The Pegmatite bands occurring in this area are of the simple acid type consisting chiefly of coarse grained Quartz and Feldspar with subordinate amounts of Biotite. The Quartz and Feldspar crystals range from a few cms. to as much as a half metre across. The Quartz found in this area in both colourless and milky white with little of impurities. The associated Feldspar is Coarse grained being pink to flesh red in colour and perthitic in texture.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 9

2. DUNITE:

Dunite is a ultrabasic igneous rocks, associated with Magnesite. Dunites are medium grained Grey green rocks almost entirely consisting of olivine. In chalk hills there are patches with a mixture of Pyroxene and the rock is transitional to peridotite. Accessory minerals of Dunite are Chromite and Garnet.

3. SOAPSTONE / STEATITE:

The deposits of Talc and Steatite, which are derived from ultramacfic rocks, are more abundant than those in magnesian limestone and dolomites. Usually they are derived from Serpentine, which are formed at first and later transformed into Steatite. Thus, it is evident that Talcose substances are the alteration products of magnesium-bearing minerals which may be primary or secondary in character. The deposit found in Periyasoragai, Aranganur, Tholasampatty, Marakottai and Kongupatty of Omalur Taluks. The total available Geological reserves is 1,11,891 M.T.

4. CALCITE:

Calcite, which is the predominating mineral ingredient in all the limestone formations, is formed in large masses of contact metasomatic deposits by the process of recrystallisation of limestones. The deposit found in Sankari Taluk.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 10

3. General profile of the District

Salem is one of the biggest districts and it is centrally situated in Tamil Nadu. It is a Geologist‟s paradise, surrounded by hills and the landscape dotted with hillocks. Salem has vibrant culture dating back to the ancient . As a district, Salem has its singinficance in various aspects such as Mango Cultivation, Silver Ornaments, Textiles, Sago industries and Steel production. It has thirteen taluks. Salem West, Salem South, Kadayampatti and Pethanaikkanpalayam are newly formed taluks in this district. There are many things in Salem that are noteworthy by its virtue of its location and social set-up.

AREA AND POPULATION

Salem district’s geographical area is 5950 sq.kms. While Salem district occupies the 9th rank among the districts in Tamil Nadu in regard to size, the population of Salem district occupies 5th rank among districts in Tamil Nadu. As per 2001 census 53.65% persons are in Rural areas and remaining 46.35% persons are in Urban areas. The population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the district are 15.5% and 3.50% respectively. The density of population as per 2001 census 573.

As per the population census 2011, the total population of the district is 34, 82,056 of which 17, 81,571 are males and the remaining 1700485 are females. The percentage of decadal growth rate of population has declined to 15.37 % during 2001-11 from 17.2& of 1991-2001. The sex ratio has gone up to 954 females per 1000 males as per census 2011 when compared to 929 females per 1000 males in 2001 census. It is ranked as 31st among all districts of the State in respect of sex ratio. The population density per square kilometer has increased to 663 in census 2011 from 575 of the pervious census 2001.

Salem District has been ranked at 5th place according to the most populous district in the State and its share to the State‟s total population is 4.82%.

The overall literacy rate of Salem District as per 2011 census is 73.86% with males‟ literacy rate at 80.24 % and females‟ literacy rate at 65.15%. The corresponding literacy rates of combined, males and females were 65.09%, 74.4% and 55.2% respectively in 2001 census.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 11

4. Geology and Mineral wealth of the District Crystalline rocks of Archaean to late Proterozoic age occupy over 80% of the area of the state of Tamilnadu, while the rest is covered by Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks mainly along the coastal belt and in a few inland River valleys. The hard rock terrain comprises predominantly of Charnockite and Khondalite groups and their migmatitic derivatives, supracrustal sequences of Sathyamangalam and Kolar groups and Peninsular Gneissic Complex (Bhavani Group), intruded by ultramafic-mafic complexes, basic dykes, Granites and Syenites. The sedimentary rocks of the coastal belt include fluviatile, fluvio-marine and marine sequences, such as Gondwana Supergroup (Carboniferous to Permian and Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous), marine sediments of Cauvery basin (Lower Cretaceous to Paleogene), Cuddalore /Pannambarai Formation (Mio-Pliocene) and sediments of Quaternary and Recent age. Geological map of Tamil Nadu is given below:

Fig 2: Geological map of Tamil Nadu.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 12

The geology of the area is characterised by contrasting lithological associations that are grouped under Sathyamangalam Group, Khondalite Group, Charnockite Group, Migmatite Complex, and Bhavani Gneissic Complex of Archaean/ Pre-Cambrain age, younger basic and acid intrusives are of Proterozoic age and kankar/ calcretes belonging to Quaternary age.

The Sathyamangalam Group of rocks comprises Quartzites  Fuchsite  Sillimanite, Talc-Tremolite, Actinolite schist, Amphibolite, Amphibolite, Gabbro and Pyroxenite. These litho units occur as thin bands, pods and lenses of various dimensions within Charnockites and Hornblende Biotite Gneisses. Quartzite bands is co-folded with Amphibolite and Pyroxenite. Talc-Tremolite-Actinolite schists occur as small oval to bean-shaped bodies in Hornblende Biotite Gneiss in the Southeast. Gabbros and Pyroxenites are distributed in the valley portion in the NorthEast and in Southern plains. A thin band of Amphibolite occurs in the North.

The Charnockite Group is represented by Charnockite and Banded Magnetite Quartzite. Charnockite, a greasy looking rock, is confined to the Northern part occupying the hills and the intervening valley. It is light to dark Grey in colour, medium to coarse to Pegmatoidal and consists of bluish Grey Quartz, Grey Feldspars, Pyroxenes (opx)  Hornblende  Biotite and opaques. It has a NNW-SSE trend with moderate to steep dips towards SSE or vertical in disposition. The rock is intruded by basic and ultrabasic rocks and basic dykes. Banded Magnetite Quartzite occurs as very thin bands within Charnockite.

The Khondalite Group is represented by Quartzite, Garnetiferous Sillimanite Gneiss and Calc Granulite. Quartzite occurs as thin bands associated with basic Granulites in a Gneissic country in the central part. Garnet Sillimanite Gneiss is restricted to the East where it forms persistent bands upto 50 m width occupying higher elevation of Perumal Malai. The rock is associated with Pyroxene Granulite and Garnetiferous Quartzofeldspathic Gneiss. Calc Granulite is confined to the NorthEast and shows typical ribbed weathering and contains Calcite, Plagioclase, Feldspar, Garnet and Diopside.

The Bhavani Gneissic Complex, comparable to the Peninsular Gneissic Complex, is roughly confined to the Southern half of the area. It is made up of Hornblende-Biotite and Biotite Gneisses exhibiting a distinct fissility. The Gneisses contain enclaves of the Sathyamangalam Supracrustals.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 13

The Migmatite Complex consists mainly of Garnetiferous Quartzo feldspathic Gneiss and occurs in the North bordering the Charnockite. The rock exhibits Gneissosity defined by alternate layers of felsic and mafic minerals. The felsic minerals comprise Quartz and Feldspar and the mafic minerals include Garnet  Biotite. The Migmatites Complex is intruded by basic and ultrabasic rocks and is formed due to migmatisation of Charnockite.

The alkali complex comprises ultramafic rocks of ‘chalk hills’ viz., Dunite, Peridotite and Pyroxenite and Olivine Gabbro and lamprophyre dykes confined to the North just a few kilometres NW of Salem. The ultramafic rocks are altered to workable Magnesite veins. Epidote Hornblende Gneiss occurs in the NorthWest. It appears to have been derived by the hydrothermal alteration of the country rock as a result of alkaline magmatic activity.

Alkaline intrusives represented by Syenite, generally form hills and are saturated Syenites. Based on colour and textural variations, five distinct varieties of Syenites viz., pink Pegmatoidal Syenite, Gneissic Syenite, pink / medium grained Grey Syenite, Grey porphyritic Syenite and pink coarse grained Syenite. Incidence of molybdenum is noticed in Syenite in some places. The Syenites of the area are formed to contain linear lenticular bodies of Pyroxenite and Carbonatite and shows intense brecciation near the contact of the Carbonatite body. Fenitisation in the form of alkalization of the surrounding Syenite is also noticed. The Carbonatite bodies are mostly Sovite with minor Ankerite and appear to have been emplaced along fault trending in N30E – S30W direction. Associated with the Carbonatite bodies are a number of thin Quartz-Baryte veins.

Numerous basic sills and dykes of Doleritic composition intrude the Charnockite. Two sets of dykes are present in the area: one set has a trend of NW-SE while the other set is disposed along NNE-SSW direction. The dykes vary in length from 200 m. to 5 km.

Younger acid intrusives include Granite, Pegmatite and Quartz veins and are found mostly in the West – Granite intrusives in the Kanjamalai hills, Quartz veins in the SouthWest and Pegmatite veins in the North. The Charnockites, Migmatite complex and the Bhavani Gneissic Complex are intruded by younger Granite bodies of various dimensions. The Granites intrusives as seen in the Migmatite complex are of smaller dimensions. Granite is widely distributed in the Southern part forming hillocks and linear mounds.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 14

The Granite is mostly pink colour and is fine / medium grained to Pegmatoidal. The pink Pegmatoidal Granite hosts Uranium and other Radioactive Minerals. White Pegmatoidal variety shows elevated Sn and W. The Carbonatites and the associated Pyroxenites show enrichment of Monazite and Allanite.

The Quaternary Alluvium occurs all along the course of the Sarabhanga River in the central part.

Structurally, the area shows polyphase deformation resulting in three phases of folding. Later, brittle and ductile deformations have resulted in development of faults, shearing and mylonitisation. Bedding, the primary planar fabric is displayed by the Banded Magnetite Quartzite. Foliation, the secondary planar feature is well developed. The strike of foliation of the rocks swerves from ENE-WSW through WNW-ESE to NE-SW with moderate dips on either side thereby indicating a series of Antiforms and Synforms. Closures of tight, isoclinal antiformal folds with Westerly plunges (50) are seen at a few places. Marker beds like Pyroxene Granulite define the fold pattern clearly in the SouthWest where a major Synformal fold is present. The strike of foliation is generally NE-SW with moderate dips towards NW. The area in the SouthWest contains Amphibolite bands, which are folded and re-folded into F2 and F3 folds respectively. The area in the West in the Kanjamalai hills show a broad basinal structure formed as a result of interference of two folds (F2 and F3) characterizing a doubly plunging synform. The earliest fold (F1) occurs as tight rootless folds on mesoscopic scale. A near North-south shear zone has been delineated for a length of 8km in the NorthWest. A major NE-SW trending Gangavalli shear passes through in the NorthWest, and extends for nearly 23 km and upto 1.25 km wide. The rocks occurring along this shear show intense shearing, brecciation, mylonitisation and phyllonitisation. This shear zone is offset by another set of ENE- WSW trending shear.

Mineral occurrences in Salem District

Salem District has wide occurrence of major minerals that includes Bauxite, Magnesite, Iron ore and Limestone. The minor minerals includes Quartz, Feldspar, Moonstone Dunite, Colour Granite, Dolerite (Black Granite), Rough stone, Mica, Steatite, and Gravel.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 15

The Charnockites and the Migmatites (Gneiss) occurring as massive bodies are used as building stones and road metal. Usually the chrnockites occur as residual hills and mounds with positive topography. The Gneiss generally occupy the plains as it easily weathers and erodes due to the fissile nature. The basic dykes mainly Dolerite (Black Granite) occurring as dykes is used as building stones and decorative/ ornamental stones.

Economic minerals like Magnesite, Bauxite, Steatite, Mica, Feldspar and Garnet has wide industrial applications. The magneiste is developed due to the hydrothermal alterations of ultramafic rock and occur as veins within the parent rock, dunite. The bauxite and laterite occur in the form of cappings in the Sherveroy hills which is formed due to the chemical weathering of Charnockite in the humid sub-tropical climate conditions.

In addition to the mines in the revenue land, Arasu Magnesite Mines operated by Tvl. Tamil Nadu Magnesite Limited (TANMAG), a fully owned by Undertaking is carrying out Mining of Magnesite and Dunite in Thathiengarpatti Village, Kurumbapatti Reserve Forest, Shevaroys South Range lying in between the latitude and longitude of N 110 45’ 33.38” to N110 44’ 59 .49” and E 780 09’ 30.63” to E 780 08’ 55.22” at an AMSL of 372m. The available Geological reserves of Magnesite is 24,82,697 M.T and Dunite is 22,80,430 M.T in respect of Tvl. TANMAG.

Further, Tvl. Tamil Nadu Minerlas Limited (TAMIN) a fully owned by Government of Tamil Nadu Undertaking is carrying out quarrying of Black Granite over an extent of 5.62.0 in Palamalai Reserve Forest, Yellikkaradu Bit-I, Mettur Taluk for a period of 10 years from 10.06.2009 to 09.06.2019. The quarry lease renewal applied on 28.03.2019. The same was forwarded to the Governmetn for Orders. The area lies in Eastern Longitude from E 770 46’ 46.99” to E 770 46’ 58 .49” and Northern Latitude from N 110 46’ 11.59” to N 110 46’ 22.01”.

Then, another one of quarrying of Black Granite over an extent of 16.72.0 in Palamalai Reserve Forest, Yellikkaradu Bit-II, Mettur Taluk. The area lies in Eastern Longitude from E 77046’54” to77047’19” and Northern Latitude from N11046’35” to N11046’25”. The Precise Area Comunicatd issued by the Government for grant of further lease period.

Limestone occurs in the form of crystalline variety as veins with pinch and swell nature. At places, the limestone bands are intercalated with veins of Calcite with more than 90% CaO.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 16

The Quartz and Feldspars are associated with granitic activity and occur in form of veins of varied dimensions and in the form of sheet rocks. Mica (Biotite) occur in the form of books within Pegmatites. The vermiculite occur as altered product along the shear planes.

The Gravel and Brick Clay occur associated with quaternary alluvial deposits and are few in occurrences.

The Sand deposits all along the Adipalar to Kottaiyur stretch of 10 KM in S.F.No. 1 of Kaveripuram Village. The area lying in between the latitude and longitude of N 110 56’ 51” to N110 55’13 ” and E 770 40’ 58” to E 770 45’ 20”. The average depth of sand deposit is 5 meter. In this connection, the Executive Engineer, PWD, WRO, Sarabanga Basin Division, is directed to submit a Mining Plan approved by the Deputy Director of Mines, Salem and Clearance from Concerned authority and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for passing final order in respect of grant of sand quarrying permission in S.F.No. 1 (Part) over an extent of 4.96.0 Hects of Cauvery River in Poramboke land (620m North South * 80 m in East West Direction) Near Kottaiyur Parisalthurai in Kaveripuram Village of Mettur Taluk, Salem District. The mining plan is awaited from PWD.

Geomorphology: Salem district forms part of the Upland Plateau Region of Tamil Nadu with many hill ranges, hillocks and undulating terrain with a gentle slope towards East. The prominent geomorphic units identified in the district through interpretation of Satellite imagery are 1) Plateau, 2) Structural hills, 3) Bazada zone, 3) Valley fill, 4) Pediments, 5) Shallow Pediments and 6) Buried Pediments. A number of hill ranges are located in the Northern and NorthEastern parts of the district, whereas the Southern, Western and Eastern parts of the district are gently undulating and dotted with a few isolated hillocks. The important hill ranges in the district are Yercaud hills, Kanjamalai hills, Godumalai hills and Pachamalai hills.

Soil: The soils can be broadly classified into 6 major soils types viz., Red insitu, Red Colluvial Soil, Black Soil, Brown Soil, Alluvial and Mixed Soil. Major part of the district is covered by Red insitu and Red Colluvial soils. Block soils are mostly seen in Salem, Attur, Omallur and sankari taluks. Brown Soil occupies major portion of Yercaud and parts of Salem and Omallur taluks and the Alluvial Soil is seen along the river courses in Omallur and Sankari taluks. Mixed soil is occurring only in Attur taluk.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 17

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 18

Fig 3- Google image showing the existing major and minor mineral mines/ quarries along with existing ML awarded for major minerals

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 19

Fig 4: Map showing the locations of fieldwork carried out along with commodity

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 20

5. Drainage of Irrigation Pattern:

Sl. No. Source of Irrigation Year : 2017-18 1. Net Area irrigated by (Hectares) a. Government Canals 210.000 b. Private Canals -- c. Tanks -- d. Tube wells 18431.53 e. Other wells 104669 f. Other sources -- Total Net Area Irrigated 123310.53 2. Gross Area irrigated 121783.09 3. Name of Rivers Cauveri, Sarabanga Nathi, Vasista Nathi and Suvetha Nathi 4. Name of Lakes Govindavadi Eri, Ayyanar Koil Eri, Mookaneri Eri, Attur Pudu Eri, Umayalpuram Eri, Thedavoor Eri, Arangaloor Eri, Sendarapatty Eri, Eri, Sarvoy Periya Eri Jangamasamuthiram Eri and Vadaman Eri.

Source: District G-return 2017-18 of Salem

Basin and Sub-Basin: The district is a part of Cauvery and Ponnaiar river basins and Sarabanga, Tirumanimuttar, Vasista and Suveda are the important watersheds/sub basins.

Drainage: Salem district is drained by tributaries of Cauvery and Vellar rivers. Cauvery River, which is perennial in nature, flows along the Western and Southern boundaries of the district. Sarabanga and Tirumanimuttar are important tributaries of Cauvery River and originate in the Shevroy hills. The Swetha and Vasishta rivers are tributaries of Vellar River. The originates in the Kollimalai and flows Eastwards and joins the Vellar River. The Vasishta River originates in the chitteri hills and flows southwards and joins the Vellar River. In general, the district is characterized by dentritic drainage.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 21

5.1 Processes of deposition of sediments in the rivers of the District

The breaking down of rocks due to weathering and erosion by the natural agents like river results in the formation of river sediments. These sediments will be transported for a long distance depending on the energy condition of the river and deposits in the area, in and adjacent to the river banks. The deposition of sediments takes place due to the lowering of river velocity by decrease in volume of water, declination of slope, sediment load etc.

The high energy condition of the river generally prevails in the young and mature stage of rivers proximity to the origin, where river erosion is active. Whereas, in the old stage where the energy condition lowers and develops the sinous pattern of flow called meandering, the deposition takes place.

Also, segregation of sedimets based on size fraction takes place due to the energy condition of the river. In the mature stage where both ersum and deposition is active, the sediments ranging in the size fraction of gravel, cobble, pebble etc, size of more than 10mm gets deposited. Whereas in the old stage of river, in low energy condition, after reaching the plain terrain, sediments ranging in the size of sand, silt and clay gets deposited. Also, during the time of flood where large volume of water overflowing the river banks, will form flood plain deposits, accumulating sediments of sand, silt and clay.

Generally, the sand size sediments with size fraction of 1mm and less, deposited in the river course of old stage of river and along the flood plain has varied applications particularly for construction purposes. The silt size fraction of sediments, grain size less than 0.5mm best suits of brick making. Hence, the river borne sediments like sand and silt always have a great demand. Also the other size fractions including silty clay and clay with high water holding capacity and mineral value, suits best for agriculture purpose.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 22

Fig.5: Stages of River [District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 23

The main drainage flows in Salem District is river Cauvery that flows from Mettur in the North to Bahavani in the south for a total length of 45 kms approximately.

R.Ca uver y

The Cauvery, a non perennial river, is in a mature stage of river flows in a straight line with kinks produced by NW-SE Shear planes in Kothampatti Therkukottai and Kadappa nallur. Also, the river is dissected by series of chack dams and reservoirs that act as energy brakers and reduces the sediment load capacity of the river thereby facilitating sediment (sand) accumulation in downstream of Koneripatti to Bhavani as pointbars, braided stream deposits, levee and flood plain deposits. Fig.6: Area accumulation of sedimates

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 24

Deposition of river sand in the Cauvery river flowing in Salem district is very less due to the pre-mature stage of the river and also imperenial (seasonal) flow of water. The replenishing of river sand may be less due to the non- availability of supply of materials and prevailing of high energy condition during river flow. The poor sorting co-effficient of river sediments due to the high energy condition and the poor spherucity index of the river sediments due to the less distance transportation may disqualify the river sand for building and masonary purposes.

6. Land Utilisation Pattern in the District (Forest, Agricultural, Horticultural, Mining etc.,) Salem is a city and a corporation in Salem district. It is the 5th largest Municipal Corporation and Urban agglomeration in Tamil Nadu next to , , and Trichy. (Wikipedia) Regarding the land use and land cover pattern of Salem district, majority of the lands are occupied by the agricultural land followed by mining and industrial area.

The various land use and land cover categories in Salem are 1) Agricultural land which consist of shrub land, grass/herb, dense/grass fallow; 2) Forest consisting of closed forest, open forest and reserve forest; 3) Urban areas; 4) Bare land; 5) Water bodies and 6) Unclassified lands.

LULC of Salem district in 1973: The land use and land cover pattern based on unsupervised classification for 1973, carried out by Tamilenthi et al., (http://www.aiscience.org/journal/aj3g) is given below table.The highest level occupied was crop and plantation are of 8630.03 acres with 35.92% and the loWest level occupied was tanks area of 84.28 acres accounting for 0.35%. The urban area occupied an area of 3409.98 acres with 14.19% in and the sub-urban area was 4037.35 acres with 16.80%. The commercial and industrial activity as covered with 36.22 acres of 1.40%. It was 128.54 acres with 0.53% to dedicate mining activities for the great demand of minerals in and around the district. The crop land and plantation part was 8630.03 acres with 35.92 % and the land with shrub area was 3186.66 acres with 13.26%.The scrub forest was occupied 501.05 acres with 2.08 % and the fallow land was 1139.55 acres with 4.74%. The area occupied for the tank it was 84.28 acres with 0.35% in 1973 and the river occupied area is 196.49 acres with 0.81%. The Barren and rocky surface land occupied area was 2080.28 acres with 8.66%.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 25

Class Land cover in 1973 (Acres) Area (%) Urban 3409.98 14.19 Sub-urban 4037.35 16.80 Com.& Industry 291.78 1.21

Roads 336.50 1.40

Mining activities 128.54 0.53 Crop & Plantation 8630.03 35.92 Land with shrub 3186.66 13.26 Scrub forest 501.05 2.08 Fallow land 1139.55 4.74

Tanks 84.28 0.35 River 196.49 0.81 Barren rocky surface 2080.28 8.66 Total 24019.55 100 Table: Land use and land cover for 1973 LULC of Salem district in 2010: The highest level occupied was Sub-urban area of 8368.50 acres with 34.84 % and the loWest level occupied was river area of 67.17 acres with 0.27%. The urban area occupied an area of 5466.41 acres with 22.75% in and the sub-urban area was 8368.50 acres with 34.84%. The commercial and industrial activity occupied is 710.32 acres with 2.95% and the roads covered with 758.43 acres of 3.15 %. It is 471.92 acres with 1.96 % to dedicate mining activities for the great demand of minerals in and around the district. The analysis reveals that the crop land and plantation part was 3210.49 acres with 13.36% and the land with shrub area was 1846.76 acres with 7.68 %. The scrub forest is occupied 1095.07 acres with 4.55 % and the fallow land is 353.39 acres with 1.49 %. The area occupied for the tank is 272.19 acres with 1.13% and the river occupied area is 67.17 acres with 0.27%. The Barren and rocky surface land occupied area is 1392.86 acres with 5.79%

Area change 1973 2010 Change Class (1973-2010) (Acres) (Acres) (%) (Acres) Urban 3409.98 5466.41 2056.42 +60.30 Sub-urban 4037.35 8368.50 4331.14 +107.27 Com.& Industry 291.78 710.32 418.54 +143.44 Roads 336.50 758.43 421.92 +125.38 Mining Activities 128.54 471.92 343.37 +267.12 Crop 8630.03 3210.49 5419.54 -62.79 Plantation Land with Shrub 3186.66 1846.76 1339.90 -42.04

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 26

Scrub Forest 501.05 1095.07 594.01 +118.55 Fallow land 1139.55 359.39 780.16 -68.46 Tanks 84.28 272.19 187.90 +222.93 River 196.49 67.17 129.31 -65.81 Barren Rocky 2080.28 1392.86 687.42 -33.04 Surface Total 24019.6 24019.6 - - Table: Land use and land cover change for 1973-2010

From the above two tables, it is inferred that the mining activity has changed from 128.54 acres in 1973 to 471.92 acres in 2010 showing drastic increase by 267.12%.

Fig 7. Land use land cover map of Salem 2010

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 27

7. Surface Water and Ground Water scenario of the District:

Ground water: Ground Water is an important source of water in most of the Districts in the State. Ground Water is withdrawn for Agriculture, Municipal and industrial use. The depth at which the ground water is found is called Ground water Table.The district is classified into different blocks based on the ground water abstraction rate

The status of Categorization of firkas as of March 2013 for the District is shown below. Categorisation Based On No. of Firkas Extraction (As On March 2013) Firkas Attur, Edappadi, Ernapuram, Gangavalli, Kadayampatti, Karippatti, Kattukkottai, Konganapuram, Malliyakarai, Mecheri, Nangavalli, Omalur, Palamalai, Panamarathuppatti, Pethanaickanpalayam, Over Exploited (>100%) 27 Salem Town, Sankari East, Sankari West, Semmandappatti, Thalaivasal, Tharamangalam, Thirumalaigiri, Valasaiyur, Vazhappadi, Veerapandi, Vembadithalam, Yethapur. Critical (90%-100%) 2 ,Suramangalam Karupur, Kolathur, Belur, Pottaneri, Thevur, Semi Critical (70%-90%) 7 Veeraganoor,Mettur.

Arunoothumalai, Kalrayanmalai, Puthur(S), Safe (<70%) 6 Vellakkadai, Yercaud, Patchamalai

Others (Poor& Saline) - Total 42

Surface water:

In Tamil Nadu, the surface water resources are fully utilized by various stake holders. The demand of water is increasing day by day.

So, groundwater resources play a vital role for additional demand by farmers and Industries and domestic usage leads to rapid development of groundwater.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 28

About 63% of available groundwater resources are now being used. However, the development is not uniform all over the State, and in certain districts of Tamil Nadu, intensive groundwater development had led to declining water levels, increasing trend of Over Exploited and Critical Firkas, Saline Water intrusion, etc.

8. Rainfall of the District and Climatic condition:

The district receives the rain under the influence of both SouthWest and NorthEast Monsoons. The NorthEast Monsoon chiefly contributes to the rainfall in the district. The normal annual rainfall over the district varies from about 800 mm to 1600 mm. It is the minimum around Sankari (800 mm) in the SouthWestern part of the district. It gradually increases towards North, NorthEast and East and attains a maximum around Yercaud (1594.3 mm) in the Northern part. The district enjoys a tropical climate. The weather is pleasant during the period from November to January. Mornings in general are more humid than the afternoons, with the humidity exceeding 75% on an average. In the period June to November the afternoon humidity exceeds 60% on an average. In the rest of the year the afternoons are drier, the Summer afternoons being the driest. The hot weather begins early in March, the highest temperature being reached in April and May. Weather cools down progressively from about the middle of June and by December, the mean daily maximum temperature drops to 30.2°C, while the mean daily minimum drops to 19.2°C and 19.6°C in January in Salem and respectively.

Rainfall is a single most important factor for success of crops in the farming areas. The district receives the rain under the influence of both SouthWest and Northest Monsoons. The NorthEast Monsoon chiefly contributes to the rainfall in the district. Salem district received actual rainfall of 1001.5 mm in the year 2014-15, when compared with the normal rainfall of 997.9 mm. In 2013-14, Salem district has received 902.5 mm of rainfall. i.e., 10.97% of rain fall increased when compared with previous year.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 29

TEMPERATURE (IN DEGREE CELCIUS) 2017-18

Plains 1. Maximum 37.5 2. Minimum 19.5 RAINFALL ( MM )2017-18 Normal 1. South West 440.6 2. North East 370.5 Actual 1. South West 369.8 2. North East 332.5 Source: Indian Meteorological Department

FOREST

S.No Subject Year :2017-18 1. Forest Area (Hect.) a. Reserved Forests 126540 b. Unclassified Forests 103104 c. Reserved Lands 858.190 2. Out-Turn of Forest Products a. Firewood (MT) 2699.752 b. (Heart wood) (MT) 101426.750 c. Sandalwood (Sapwood) (MT) 2000.000 d. Tamarind (MT) 58.767 e. Curry Leaves (MT) 2.300 f. Eanchi (MT) 3.300 g. Vilangai (MT) 0.100 h. Jack Fruits (MT) 1.200 i. Pulpwood (MT) 327.914 j. Other MFP (MT) 2.985 k. Coconut (Nos.) 164 l. Palmyra Fruits (Nos.) 3200 Source: Conservator of Forests, Salem Circle, Salem

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 30

MONTHLY RAINFALL FOR THE DISTRICT (in mm) Year: 2017-18

Period Normal Rainfall Actual Rainfall 1 2 3 1.South West Monsoon Period Total 440.6 487.7 Jun‟17 65.1 24.5 Jul‟17 96.4 37.4 Aug‟17 119.6 199.4 Sep‟17 159.5 223.4 2.North East Monsoon Total 370.5 341.9 Oct‟17 190.9 212.1 Nov‟17 123.8 64.0 Dec‟17 55.8 65.8 3.Winter-Period Total 16.0 15.4 Jan‟18 8.5 2.4 Feb‟18 7.5 13.0 4.Hot-Weather Period Total 170.8 179.2 Mar‟18 16.0 31.1 Apr‟18 54.0 10.4 May‟18 100.8 137.7 WHOLE YEAR 997.9 1021.2 Source: Indian Meteorological Dept. Chennai – 600 006.

Feg 8. Season-wise Rainfall for Salem District for the Year 2017-18

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 31

Fig 9:- Rainfall for the year of 2017-18

Fig 10: District Rainfall map- Tamil Nadu

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 32

SOIL CLASSIFICATION Year: 2017-18

Sl. No. Type of Soil Places in District Parts of Salem, Athur, , Mettur 1. Red Calcareous and Omalur taluks in Salem District 2. Red Non Calcareous ---- do ---- Parts of Salem, Mettur and Omalur taluks in 3. Brown Soil Calcareous Salem District Parts of Salem, Sankagiri, Mettur, Omalur 4. Red Collurial Caleareous taluks in Salem District. Parts of Sankagiri and Mettur taluks in 5. Red Collurial Non Calcareous Salem District Parts of Salem, Athur, Sankagiri, Mettur 6. Black Soils and Omalur taluks in Salem District 7. Alluvial Calcareous Parts of Sankagiri and Mettur Taluks 8. Brown soil Non Calcareous Yercaud Taluk Source: Asst. Soil Chemist, Salem

Soapstone / Steatite Minerals Occurrence in Salem District (an Overview)

Sl. Name of Name of Name of the Name of the Total No. No the Mineral the Taluk Villages of Leases Division Granted

1. Chinnasoragai 1 2. Periyasoragai 1 Mettur Pukkampatti and 3. 1 Amaram Mettur 4. Soapstone / Aranganur - Steatite Omalur 5. Tholasampatti -

6. Marakottai - Kadayampatti 7. Kongupatti - 8. Attur Attur 1

Total 4

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 33

9. Details of the mining leases in the District as per the following format: (Soapstone) (in M.T)

Period of Obtained Status Address Period of Mining Mining lease Environmental Location of Method of Area of Date of (Working / Name of Name of & Mining Lease Lease (Initial) (1st /2nd Captive / clearance the Mining Mining Sl. Mining Commencem Non-Working the the Contact Grant order ….renewal) Non- (Yes/No), If Lease (Opencast/ No Lease ent of Mining /Temp. Mineral Lessee No. of No. & Date Captive yes letter No. (Latitude & Under- (Ha.) Operations Working for Lessee with date of Longitude) ground) dispatch etc.,) From To From To grant of EC.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

-NIL-

10. Details of Revenue and Production in last three years 2016-17 to 2018-19 (Soapstone) (in Rs.)

Sl. Year Revenue Production No (in Rs.) (in M.T)

1. 2016-17

2. 2017-18 -NIL-

3. 2018-19

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 34

11. Mineral Map of the District

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 35

12. List of Letter of Intent (LOI) holders in Salem District along with its validity as per the following format

Area of Letter of Use Location of the Address & contact mining Sl. Name of the Name of the Intent Grant Validity of (Captive/ Mining lease No. of letter of Intent lease to be No Mineral lessee order No. & LOI Non- (Latitude & holder allotted date captive) Longitude) (Ha) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

-NIL-

13. Total Reserve available in the district

Sl. Geological Reserves Village Taluk No. (in M.T) 1. Chinnasoragai Mettur 1,11,891 M.T

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 36

14. Quality / Grade of Mineral available in the District

Steatite is massive and impure form of Talc, Silica, Mica and Traces Iron and present as impurities. Steatite is formed due to hydro thermal alternation of associated ultra basic rocks like peridotite, Pyroxenite, Dunites. The Steatite is formed due to the hydro thermal action on Pyroxenites which is mainly found here: The variation in quality of Steatie in this area may be due to light folding. The chief rock types of the area Hornblende-gneisses and Pyroxentites. The rock of the area is distured condition and there is no uniform dip or strike. Steatite is a Hydro Silicate of Magnesium, massive inform, Pale green in Colour, soft and soapy lustre, hardness-1, with specific gravity-2.7.

The Chemical properties of Soapstone are given in the following Table:-

Silica (SiO2) 38.12%

Alumina (Al2O3) 2.35%

Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3) 3.46% Feerous Oxide (FeO) 5.96%

MgO 36.96% CaO 1.91% LoI 11.18%

15. Use of Mineral:

It has been used in paint industry, ceramic industries, paper, rubber, cosmatics, insecticides and textiles industries.

16. Demand and supply of the Mineral in the last three years.

Environmental Clearance obtained quarry leases are considerably low in the district compare to the other district but the demand and supply of stone is not much more.

Sl. Year Soapstone Production No (in M.T)

1. 2016-17 2. 2017-18 -NIL- 3. 2018-19

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 37

17. Mining lease marked on the map of the District:

Fig 11. Showing the location of Overall Mining and Quarries leases granted in Salem District.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 38

Fig 15. Showing the location of Soapstone/ Steatite quarrying leases.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 39

18. Details of the area of where there is a cluster of mining viz., number of mining leases, location (latitude and longitude):-

Locatio n of the Letter of Area of Use Mining Name Intent mining Geological S. (Capitive lease of the Grant lease to be Village Taluk District Reserves No. /Non- (Latitu Mineral order No. allotted (Mill.Tons) capitive) de & & date (Ha) Longitu de)

-NIL-

19. Details of Eco-Sensitive Area, if any, in the District.

Name of the Number of Status of the prohibited areas Sl. Quarries / mines Quarries illegal mining existing in the No existing in the /mines existing reported in the district ( Eco Remarks prohibited areas in the prohibited area, sensitive zone, granted with due prohibited if any Wild life clearance areas sanctuaries, etc)

-NIL-

20. Impact on the Environment (Air, Water, Noise, Soil Flora & Fauna, Land use, Agriculture, Forest etc.,) due to Mining Activity:- Generally, the Environmental impacts can be categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary impacts are those, which are attributed directly by the project, secondary impacts are those, which are indirectly induced and typically include the associated investment and changed pattern of social and economic activities by the proposed action.

The impact has been ascertained for the project assuming that the pollution due to mining activity has been completely spelled out under the baseline environmental status for the entire ROM which is proposed to exploit from the mines.

Air Mining Operations are carried out by opencast Semi mechanized/ Mechanized method, dust particles are generated due to various activities like, Excavation, Loading, handling of mineral and transportation. The air quality in the mining area depends upon the nature and concentration of emissions and meteorological conditions.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 40

The major air pollutants due to mining activity includes:-  Particulate Matter (Dust) of various sizes.  Gases, such as, Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide etc., from vehicular exhaust.  Dust is the single Air pollutant observed in the Open Cast- mines. Diesel operating drilling

machines, small amount of blasting and movement of machinery/ vehicles produce NOX, SO2 and CO emissions, usually at low levels. Dust can be of significant nuisance surrounding land users and potential health risk in some circumstances.

Water Impact The mining operation leads to intersect the water table cause ground water depletion. Due to the interruption surface water sources like River, Nallah, Odai etc., surface water system, Drainage pattern of the area is altered. Noise Noise pollution is mainly due to operation of Machineries and occasional plying of machineries. These activities will create Noise pollution in the surrounding area. Land Environment The topography of the area will change, due to the Topographical changes the entire Eco system will be altered. Flora and Fauna

The impact on biodiversity is difficult to quantify because of its diverse and dynamic characteristics. Mining activities generally result in the deforestation, land degradation, water, air and noise pollution which directly or indirectly affect the faunal and floral status of the project area.

However, occurrence and magnitude of these impacts are entirely dependent upon the project location, mode of operation and technology involved.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 41

21. Remedial Measure to mitigate the impact of Mining on the Environment

Air Mitigated measures suggested for air pollution controls are based on the baseline ambient air quality of the area

The following measures are proposed to adopted in the mines such as,

 Dust generation shall be reduced by using sharp teeth of shovels.  Wet drilling shall be carried out to contain the dust.  Controlled blasting techniques shall be adopted.  Water spraying on haul roads, service roads and overburden dumps will help in reducing considerable dust pollution.  Proper and regular maintenance of mining equipment’s have to be considered.  Transport of material in trucks covered with tarpaulin.  The mine pit water can be utilized for dust suppression in and around mine areas.  Information on wind direction and meteorology will be considered while planning, so that pollutants, which cannot be fully suppressed by engineering technique, will be prevented from reaching the nearby agriculture area.  Comprehensive green belt around overburden dumps has to be carried out to reduce to fugitive dust emissions in order to create clean and healthy environment. Water

 Construction of garland drains to divert surface run-off into the mining area.  Construction of check dams / gully plugs at strategic places to arrest silt wash off from broken up area.  Retaining walls with weep hole will be constructed around the mine boundariesto arrest silt wash off.  The mined out pits shall be converted into the water reservoir at the end of mine life. This will help in recharging ground water table by acting as a water harvesting structure.  Periodic analysis of mine pit water and ground water quality in nearby villages.  Domestic sewage from site office & urinals/latrines provided in ML is discharged in septic tank followed by soak pits.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 42

Noise Mitigation measures

 Periodic maintenance of machinery, equipment’sshall be ensured to keep the noise generated at minimum.  Development of thick green belt around mining area and haul roads to reduce the noise.  Provision of earplugs to workers exposed to high noise generating activities. Workers and operators at work site will be provided with earmuffs.  Conducting periodical medical checkup of all workers for any noise related health problems.  Proper training to personnel to create awareness about adverse noise level effects.  Periodic noise monitoring at suitable locations in the mining area and nearby habitations to assess efficacy of adopted control measures.  During the blasting, optimum Spacing, Burden and charging of holes will be made under the supervision of competent qualified mines foreman, Mate as approved by Director of Mines safety. Biological Environment MITIGATION MEASURES:  Development of gap filling saplings in the safety barrier left around the quarryarea.  Carrying out thick greenbelt with local flora species predominantly with long canopy leaves on the inactive mined out upperbenches.  Development of dense poly-culture plantation using local flora species in the mining area at conceptual stage.  Adoption of suitable air pollution control measures as suggested above.  Transport of materials in trucks covered with tarpaulin.  Construction of garland drains and settling tank to arrest silt wash off from lease area.  Construction of retention walls around lower boundary of mining area to arrest silt washoff and roll down boulders.  Retaining walls with weep hole will be constructed around the mine boundariesto arrest silt wash off.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 43

22. Reclamation of Mined out area (Best practice already implemented in the District, requirement as per rules and regulation, proposed reclamation plan).

Inrespect of Roughstone quarry the entire mineral is mined out and working will be progressing towards bottom of the pit, reclamation in this mined out areas are not possible at present. However, the quarry pit allowed to collecting the seepage and rainwater for the storage of water will be kept as a reservoir for charging the nearby well and will be used for afforestation purpose. So, reclamation is not possible.

Inrespect of other minerals, the proposed depth of quarrying is depends upon geological formation (strike and dip), persistence of mineral, Anticipated life of the quarry and ultimate pit limit for safe & systematic method of quarrying. The excavated waste materials will be dumped properly terraced systematically be multi level dumping. When the dump becomes non-active it will be further terraced for spread of top soil for plantation of trees. When the quarry reach the ultimate pit limit, quarried out pit will be fenced with barbed wire also safety bund is constructed around the quarry and the quarry pit allowed to collecting the seepage and rainwater for the storage of water will be kept as a reservoir for charging the nearby well and will be used for afforestation purpose. Fish culture will be attempted. Hence, backfilling program has not been commenced.

23. Risk Assessment & Disaster Managment Plan:

The Disaster Management Plan (DMP) is supposed to be a dynamic, changing, document focusing on continual improvement of emergency response planning and arrangements. The disaster management plan is aimed to ensure safety of life, protection of environment, protection of installation, restoration of production and salvage operations in this same order of priorities. For effective implementation of the disaster management plan, it should be widely circulated and personnel training through rehearsals/induction conducted by the respective department from time to time.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 44

General Responsibilities of Employees during an Emergency:

During an emergency, it becomes more enhanced and pronounced when an emergency warning is raised, the workers in-charge, should adopt safe and emergency shut down and attend any prescribed duty as essential employee. If no such responsibility is assigned, he should adopt a safe course to assembly point and await instructions. He should not resort to spread panic. On the other hand, he must assist emergency personnel towards objectives of DMP.

Co-ordination with Local Authorities: The mine manager who is responsible for emergency will always keep a jeep ready at site. Incase any eventualities the victim will be taken to the nearby hospitals after carrying out the first aid at site. A certified first aid certificate holder will be responsible to carryout the first aid at site. The mine manager should collect and have adequate information of the nearby hospitals, fire station, police station, village panchayat heads, taxy stands, medical shop, district revenue authorities etc., and use them efficiently during the case of emergency.

24. Details of the Occupation Health issues in the District. (Last five-year date of number of patients of Silicosis & Tuberculosis is also needs to be submitted):-

As per the guidelines of the Mine Rules 1955, occupational health safety stipulated by the ILO/WHO. The proponent’s will take all necessary precautions. Normal sanitary facilities should be provided within the lease area. The management will carry out periodic health checkup of workers. Occupational hazards involved in mines are related to dust pollution, Noise pollution, blasting and injuries from moving machineries & equipment and fall from high places. DGMS has given necessary guidelines for safety against these occupational hazards. The management will strictly follow these guidelines. All necessary first aid and medical facilities will be provided to the workers. The mine shall be well equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Further all the necessary protective equipment’s such as helmets, safety goggles, earplugs, earmuffs, etc. will be provided to persons working in mines as per Mines Rules. Alloperators and mechanics will be trained to handle fire- fighting equipment’s.

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 45

25. Plantation and Green Belt development in respect of leases already granted in the District:

Afforestation is carried out along the lease boundary areas (Non-mineral bearing areas) and overburden dump. The rate of survival expected to be 60%. The local species of sapling i.e., Neem, Pongamia, Mango and Pinnata are preferred for plantation.

26. Any other information:

-NIL-

[District Survey Report, Salem District] Page 46