AGENDA ITEM NO. 3 Diversion of 202.35 ha (including 7.68 ha area earmarked for safety zone) of Reserved forest land in favour of Arcelor Mittal India Limited for mining of Iron Ore and Manganese in Saranda Forest Division of West Singhbhum District in the State of Jharkhand (8-49/2013-FC). 1. The State Government of Jharkhand, vide their letter no. No. 3/Van Bhumi- 63/2010/2285/V.P. dated 24.05.2013 submitted the above proposal seeking prior approval of the Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. 2. Arcelor Mittal India Limited (AMIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Arcelor Mittal, has proposed to set up an integrated steel plant of 12 MTPA capacity, in Jharkhand. AMIL has entered into a MOU with Government of Jharkhand on 8 th Oct 2005 to set up a 12 MTPA Green field Steel Plant in two Phases of 6 MTPA each and each phase in turn will comprise of two stages of 3 MTPA each. Location of the proposed steel plant is selected at Torpa Block in Khunti District and Kamdara Block in Gumla District of Jharkhand State. The annual requirement of Iron Ore for the Jharkhand Plant would be 20MTPA i.e. @5 MTPA for each stage. 3. Requirement of iron ore for the steel plant is planned to be met from this proposed captive mine @ 5 MTPA for the first stage of Phase-I and other captive sources to be allocated by Government of Jharkhand, in accordance with MoU for others stages. 4. The proposed mine is located near the Kiriburu mines of SAIL. The area is covered under the Karampada Reserve forest and lies between Latitude 22 o 06’29” N to 22 o 07’39” N and longitude 85 o 17’30” E to 85 o 18’42” E). The ML area is at a distance of around 27 kms from barajamda railway siding and 30 kms east from the Barbil town. 5. The total area for Mining Lease is 202.350 ha and the entire area is forest land. 6. The geological reserves of Meghahatuburu Iron & Manganese ore deposit is 29.925 million ton out of which 26.621 million ton is mineable reserve of +55% Fe grade. Application has been submitted for Environmental Clearance and T.O.R. has been obtained. 7. Facts related to the proposal as contained in the State Government’s letter dated 24.05.2013 are given below in the form of factsheet: FACT SHEET 1. Name of the Proposal Diversion of 202.35 ha of Reserved forest land in favour of Arcelor Mittal India Limited for mining of Iron Ore and Manganese in Saranda Forest Division of West Singhbhum District in the State of Jharkhand. 2. Location (iii) State Jharkhand (iv) District West Singhbhum 3. Particulars of Forests: (i) Name of Forest Division Saranda Forest Division and 202.35 ha Forest area involved. Reser ve Forests notified as core area of Singhbhum (ii) Legal status/Sy.No. Elephant Reserve. (iii) Map SOI toposheet - Pg-183/c. DGPS map – Not enclosed. However Regional Office in their SIR has submitted the same. 10 Km radius map – Enclosed. Reclamation Plan – Enclsoed. Safety Zone– Enclosed. 4. Topography of the area - 5. (iii) Geology - (iv) Vulnerability to erosion The proposed diversion area is has moderate to steep slopes. Approximately 60% of the area is covered with dense tree as well as ground vegetation and rest area is either devoid of trees or having open forest. The canopy if opened is prone to soil erosion. Thus, it is very obligatory to take up soil conservation works on large scale. To check the soil erosion check dam and garland drains etc. in the around the proposed area are needed to be ensured. 6. (i) Vegetation Ahasin, llu, Amla, Asandu, Atna, Bahera, bandhu, Bargad, baschandva, Belgiri, Ber, Bilkundru, Bindaru, Birkaronj, Bitabarun, Bundur, Buru Kundri, Champa, char, Chatni, Doka, Drytree, Dumar, Durbili, Edal, Gandagaruda, Garisinduri, Gulmohar, hari, Hel, helada, Hesal, Jamun, Kandaur, Karanj, Kendu, Kudumba, Kusum, kuti, Labha, Lupung, Mango, Neem, Omay, Palandu, Pija, Pipal, Rai, Rola, Sahgalsingh, Sakmada, Sal, Semal, Seyadi, Sinduri, Sisam, Sonari, Taparjo, Toa, Veerturang etc. (ii) Density Less than 0.4 in approximately 80.0 ha of proposed area and on an average of 0.5 in the remaining 122.35 ha area. (iii) No. of trees to be felled As per the abstract of affected trees given in the proposal following details is furnished: Total - 744 Trees Below 60 girth = 267 Trees Above 60 girth = 477 Trees However, the Regional Office, in its SIR has indicated that total number of affected trees is 7169 Comprising of 2573 trees below 60 cm girth and 4596 trees above 60 cm girth. 7. Whether area is significant from No wildlife point of view 8. Whether forms part of National The entire forest of Saranda Forest Division park, Wildlife Sanctuary, including the proposed mining lease area has been Biosphere Reserve, Tiger notified as core area of Singhbhum Elephant Reserve, Elephant Corridor, etc. Reserve vide notification No. 72/2000 P.E. dt. (if so, details of the area and 24.3.2001 of Govt. India. The Saranda forest is one comments of the Chief Wildlife of the finest habitats for elephants. The forest is Warden mainly of Moist Peninsular Sal type wherein sal forms approximately about 40% of the species diversity. The elephant reserve is spread over three districts of the south eastern part of Jharkhand. The elephant reserve is in continuity with the forests of adjoining stages of Odisha and West Bengal. The User Agency undertakes to implement measures to check damage to wildlife in the area. A scheme for protection of wildlife and forest to mitigate the ill effects due to mining is being submitted with proposal for approval. 9. Whether any RET species of Giant squirrel, Reptiles, Sloth beer, barking deer, flora and fauna are found in the Indian elephant, etc. have been reported in the area. area. If so details thereof 10. Approximate distance of the Zero. The proposed applied area falls within proposed site for diversion from Karampada Forest Compartment No. KP 33 (p) boundary of forest. KP-34(P) and KP 35(P). 11. Whether any protected There is no protected archaeological/heritage archaeological/ heritage site/defense establishment in the proposed area. site/defence establishment or any other important monuments is located in the area. 12. Whether any work of in No violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been carried out (Yes/No). If yes details of the same including period of work done, action taken on erring officials. Whether work in violation is still in progress. 13. Whether the requirement of The District Mining Officer vide his letter No. forest land as proposed by the 1081/M dt. 10.06.2008 has communicated that the user agency in col. 2 of Part-I is Mining lease has been conditionally granted to the unavoidable and barest user agency over 500 acre area for a period of 30 minimum for the project, if no years subject of forest & environment clearance. recommended area item-wise The Assistant Mining Officer vide his letter No. with details of alternatives 993/M dt. 23.07.2009 has issued the certificate that examined. the proposed 500 acres area is mineralized zone having deposit of Iron and Manganese Ore and the same mineral is not available in surrounding/nearby non forest areas. Thus, the proposed area is unavoidable and also, is barest minimum. 14. Whether clearance under the Yes, Application for Environmental Clearance has Environment (protection) Act, been submitted to MoEF and TOR has been 1986 is required? obtained. EIA/EMP report is under preparation by M/s. Bhagavathi Ana labs. Ltd, Hyderabad. 15. Compensatory Afforestation CA has been proposed over equivalent non-forest land. (i) Details of non-forest User Agency has submitted un undertaking that the area/degraded forest area land procurement process is underway and would identified for CA, its distance provide the details of compensatory affoerestation from adjoining forest, number land details as expeditiously as possible. The of patches, sixe of each compensatory land shall be mandatory before patches. according Stage-II to the user agency. After the stage-I clearance being accorded to the user agency the compensatory afforestation scheme shall be prepared by the concerned DFO and accordingly the user agency shall be asked to bear the cost of compensatory afforestation. Regional Office, in its site inspection report has reported that so far 500 ha land has been identified and nearly 270 acres of land has been acquired by the project proponent for the CA. (ii) Map showing non- - forest/degraded forest area identified for CA and adjoining forest boundaries. (iii) Detailed CA scheme - including species to be planted, implementing agency, time schedule, cost structure, etc. (iv) Total financial outlay for - CA (v) Certificate from the - competent authority regarding suitability of the area identified for CA and from management point of view. 16. Catchment Area Treatment NA 17. Reh abilitation of Oustees a) No of families involved Nil b) Category of families c) Details of rehabilitation plan 18. Settlement of rights under the Not submitted in the original proposal. However, Scheduled Tribe and Other Regional Office, in its site inspection report has Traditional Forest Dwellers indicated that certificate from the District (Recognition of Forest Rights) Collector, Chaibassa has been submitted. However, Act, 2006 other documentary evidences such as copies of Gram Sabha resolutions have not been submitted. 19. Cost Benefit Ratio Pg -101/c 1996575.00/43218.68= 1:46.19 20. Employment potential 345 persons can be employed directly & 1380 persons will be indirectly employed.