1 CHAPTER-I INTRODUCTION 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: The Public Works Department is the single agency to operate the sand quarry operation in State since 2003 as the amended rule 38A in Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1959 to ensure the systematic and scientific sand quarry operation. To increase the functional efficiency of the newly constructed Kattalai Barrage, the Public Works Department has proposed to set up a sand quarry operation over an extent of 256.06 Ha. in River Cauvery at upstream and downstream of the above Barrage in SF No.1 of Mayanur village in Krishnarayapuram tehsil of Karur District in Tamil Nadu. As per the approved mining plan, the total production capacity of the project is 15,18,958 m3 of sand. As per EIA Notification dated 14th Sep, 2006 as amended on 1st December 2009, the project falls under category “A” project or Activity 1(a). The precise area communication has been approved by the District Collector, Karur vide Lr. No. Rc.No.225/Mines/ 2013 dated 23.04.13 (Annexure 1.1). The mining plan has been prepared for production of 15,18,958 m3 for three years period and it was approved by the Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Karur vide letter No. Rc.No.225/Mines/ 2013 dated.19.7.2013 (Annexure 1.2.) Public Works Department submitted Form-I and prefeasibility report to MoE&F on 02.09.2013. This proposal was submitted before the 14th meeting of the Recostituted Expert Appraisal Committee on 22.11.2013 for Environmental Appraisal of Mining projects constituted under EIA Notification 2006 for issuing ToR. The committee issued the ToR vide the Letter No. J-11015/64/2014-IA.II(M) dt.1st April 2014 to carry out the Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA) studies spanning one season Viz December 2013 to February 2014 , so as to delineate Environmental Management Plans (EMP) to mitigate any adverse impacts due to mining activity caused by the quarrying operation to remove the sand shoals in upstream and downstream of Kattalai Barrage. Copy of ToR letter enclosed as Annexure 1.3. The public hearing for the above project was conducted on 28.06.2014 at Mayanur village in Krishnarayapuram tehsil of Karur District under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate of Karur after giving the vide publicity through English and local vernacular daily. The above proposal for seeking Environmental Clearance was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee in its 22nd meeting held during August 26-27, 2014. The committee mentioned some remarks vide the Letter F.No. J- 11015/64/2014.IA-II(M) dt.17.9.2014 and the clarifications for the above remarks has also been incorporated in this final EIA/EMP Report. (Annexure 1.4) Public Works Department, River Conservancy Division, Water Resources Department Trichy‐1 2 1.2 PROJECT PROPONENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF PROJECT: The Public Works Department is the single agency to operate the sand quarry operation in State since 2003 as the amended rule 38A in Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1959 to ensure the systematic and scientific sand quarry operation. The project proponent is Executive Engineer, River Conservancy Division, Trichy who is conservator of Cauvery River from mile 33/0 to 131/0 from Mettur reservoir and 0 to 47/6 mile of Coleroon river from Upper Anicut. The Executive Engineer maintains and regulates the irrigation channel in either side of Cauvery river in above mentioned chainage to a ayacut of 1,82,000 acres besides controlling Sand quarry operation. 1.3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT: 1.3.1 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE PROJECT: Salient features of the project is given in Table 1.1 TABLE: 1.1 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE PROJECT Sl. No. Particulars Details A. Location Details: 1. Location Mayanur village in Krishnarayapuram tehsil A. District Karur B. State Tamil Nadu 2. Co-ordinates of four corners of proposed project site NW Latitude 10 ◦57’29.4”N Longitude 78◦12’28.5” E NE Latitude 10 ◦57’57.5”N Longitude 78◦14’28” E SW Latitude 10 ◦57’04.5”N Longitude 78◦12’31.5” E SE Latitude 10 ◦57’42.4”N Longitude 78◦14’31.7”E B. Proposed Project Area: 3. Total Proposed Area 256.06 Ha. Elevation above Mean Sea 95.70m to 101.00m Level in m 4. Government Land Govt. River Poromboke land owned by PWD 5. Private Land Not Applicable. C. Production Capacity: 15,18,958 m3 D. Environmental settings: 6. Nearest Railway Station Mayanur (a km away in southern side) Public Works Department, River Conservancy Division, Water Resources Department Trichy‐1 3 7. Nearest Village Sriramasamuthiram, Silaipillayaputtur, Mayanur, Kattalai. 8. Nearest Town/City Karur – 21 KM, Kulithalai – 20 KM Musiri – 25 KM, Thottiyam – 15 KM 9. Nearest Highway NH 67 in Southern Side SH 25 in Northern Side 10. Nearest Airport Trichy – 65 KM (By road-Appx.) 11. Nearest River/Canal Lease area is river bed of Cauvery. The (By road-Appx.) North Bank Canal, South Bank Canal, Kattalai High Level Canal, New Kattalai High Level Canal and Krishnrayapuram Canal runs along the bank. 12. Nearest Hill Ranges Nil 13. Source of water in the area River, Bore well and Community wells. 14. Soil Type Sand shoals 15. Ground Water Level (i) Pre-monsoon (April/May) Core Zone - 2.00 mbgl Buffer Zone - 6.05 mbgl (ii)Post-monsoon (November) Core Zone - 2.10 mbgl Buffer Zone - 4.17 mbgl 16. A. Temperature Min: 10.40°C Max: 35.40°C 17. B. Relative Humidity At 08.30 hrs Min: 76% Max: 96% At 17.30 hrs Min: 37% Max: 100% 18. C. Mean Annual Rainfall 630.00mm E. Cost Details: 19. Cost of the Project Rs. 6.82 Crores /- Cost for Environmental Rs. 92.35 Lakhs /- 20. Protection Cost of Socio-Economic Rs. 4.56 Crores 21. Development Source:- Site Visit/Survey 1.3.2 SIZE OF THE PROJECT: The area of the project spreads over an extent of 256.06 Ha in Mayanur village in Krishnarayapuram tehsil of Karur District. The total quantity of sand proposed to excavate is 15,18,958 m3 in three years. 1.3.3 LOCATION OF THE PROJECT: The proposed area for sand mining operation is 256.06 Ha, falls in the village of Mayanur in Krishnarayapuram tehsil of Karur District. Land documents are enclosed an Annexure 1.5 Public Works Department, River Conservancy Division, Water Resources Department Trichy‐1 4 The proposed site falls a 2 KM away from north side of NH 67 (Karur to Trichy) and 12 KM away from south side of SH 25 (Salem to Trichy). The approximate road distance from major town is as follows. Karur 21 KM, Kulithalai 20 KM, Musiri 25 KM, Thottiyam 15 KM, Trichy 65 KM. The nearest railway station is Mayanur, approximately 2.00 KM from the quarry site in south side. The nearest airport is Trichy, approximately 65 KM away in east side. The site is well connected with communication facilities like Telephone, Fax, Wireless and Telex and as such, no constraints are envisaged in this aspect as the Tehsil and District headquarters are near to the site. 1.3.4 IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT TO THE COUNTRY AND REGION: The interlinking of river is the vision of our Tamil Nadu State Governmentand play a role model for entire Nation. It is widely accepted that the interlinking of river is the need of the hour. To fulfil the vision, our State Government is taking the pioneering effort to link the river Agniyar, Southvellar, Manimutharu,Vaigai, Gundaru with River Cauvery in first phase by constructing the Kattalai Barrage across Cauvery river at Mayanur village, Krishnarayapuram tehsil of Karur district. It would serve the intra-state river linking plan to provide water parched districts in the south Tamil Nadu. Excess water during floods in the Cauvery could be diverted to the parched areas in the southern districts by linking the Agniyaru, Koraiyaru, Manimutharu, Vaigai and Gundaru. Construction of Barrage at Kattalai is an important inevitable in linking rivers in the southern peninsula which was proposed by National Water Development Agency (NWDA). Based on that, the Government of Tamil Nadu sanctioned an amount of Rupees 165 Cores for the construction of Barrage across the River Cauvery at 250 Meters downstream of existing Kattalai bed regulator in Mayanur village of Krishnarayapuram tehsil in Karur district of Tamil Nadu in G.O.Ms.No.116PW(N2) Dept. dated: 09.05.2008 under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme. Continuous deposition of sand on the upstream and downstream of Kattalai old bed regulator which is situated 250 meters, upstream side of new barrage on the river Cauvery has caused serious problem for the very existence of bed regulator itself . This envisages danger mark for the bed regulator. Public Works Department creates, maintains and protects all irrigation systems including the rivers. Periodical maintenance including desilting of the drains/canals had carried out to maintain the functional efficiency including the carrying capacity of the canal. But in rivers flood protection works are carried out Public Works Department, River Conservancy Division, Water Resources Department Trichy‐1 5 by increasing top level of bund and protecting the sides of bund with revetment. The desilting was never carried out in rivers due to the cost constraints. Therefore, prolonged siltation for decades and more, the level of river bed has increased and reduced the carrying capacity. Whenever floods and consequent damages occurred, it was resorted to increase the bund level to restore the carrying capacity of rivers. It was never thought of removing the sand shoals in the river due to the enormous cost it require and the problem of ways and means to dispose the removed sand.