F.No.J-11015/439/2007-IA.II(M)
Government of
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,
C.G.O. Complex,
To
M/s
Orissa Mining Corporation Limited
OMC
House, Bhubanswar-751 001
Orissa
E-mail:
info@orissamining.com
Subject: Kodingamali
Bauxite Mining Project of M/s Orissa Mining Corporation Limited located in Kodingamali, Tehsil Koraput,
District Koraput, Orissa- Environmental Clearance regarding.
Sir,
This has reference to your letter
No.10636/OMC/2007 dated 15.05.2007 and subsequent letters dated 26.12.2007 and
21.02.2008 on the subject mentioned above. The proposal is for
opening of a new mine for production of 3million tonnes
per annum (million TPA) of bauxite, which will be supplied to the alumina
refinery of M/s Hindalco Industries Limited located
at Kansari-
gurha, District Raygada at
a distance of about 3km from the mine lease. The total mine lease area of the project is 447.25ha, which is a
forestland falling under Kodingamali Reserve Forest
of Koraput Forest Division. The Kodingamali plateau is a part of
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from alumina refinery
during the initial years and later on from the rainwater harvested in the mine
pits. No groundwater or surface water will be sourced for the mining operation.
There will be zero discharge from the mine. Approximately 23240m3 per month of solid waste comprising 240m3 per month of topsoil
(soil/clay/murram), 8600m3 per month of
over burden and 14400m3 per month of subgrade
ore will be generated, which will be temporarily stacked at the earmarked
site(s). It is estimated that 2.06millon m3 of over burden will be
generated during the mine life, which will be stored in the earmarked areas for
the first five years and thereafter concurrently backfilled. Backfilled will
start from the 6th year onwards. There will no external dump at the
end of the mine life.
2. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has
examined the application in accordance with Section 12 of the EIA Notification
2006 read with para 2.2.1(i)(a)
of Circular No.J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I) dated 13.10.2006 and hereby accords
environmental clearance under the provisions thereof to the above mentioned Kodingamali Bauxite Mining Project of M/s Orissa Mining
Corporation Limited for an annual production capacity of 3000,000tonnes (3 millions tonnes) of bauxite by
opencast mechanized method involving lease area of 447.25ha, subject to
implementation of the following conditions and environmental safeguards.
A. Specific conditions
(i)
All the
conditions stipulated by the State Pollution Control Board in their Consent to Establish shall be effectively implemented.
(ii)
Necessary
forestry clearance under the
(iii)
The
mining operations shall be restricted to above ground water table and it should
not intersect groundwater table. In case of working below ground water table,
prior approval of the Ministry of Environment & Forests and Central Ground
Water Authority shall be obtained for which a detailed hydro-geological study
shall be carried out.
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(iv)
The project
proponent shall ensure that no natural watercourse/or water resources shall be
obstructed due to any mining operations.
(v)
The top soil
should temporarily be stored at earmarked site(s) only and it should not be
kept unutilized for a period more than 3years. The topsoil should be used for
land reclamation and plantation.
(vi)
The solid
waste generated during the initial five years due to
mining operation shall temporarily be stacked at earmarked dump site(s) only and thereafter
concurrently backfilled. Backfilling shall start from the 6th year
onwards. There shall be no external over burden dump at the end of the mine
life. The backfilled area shall be reclaimed and rehabilitated by
plantation. Monitoring and management of rehabilitated areas should continue
until the vegetation becomes self-sustaining. Compliance status should be
submitted to the Ministry of Environment & Forests and its Regional Office
located at
(vii)
Catch drains
and siltation ponds of appropriate size shall be constructed around the working pit, soil, mineral and temporary
Garland
drains, settling tanks and check dams
of appropriate size, gradient and length shall be constructed both around the
mine pit and temporary over burden dumps to prevent run off of water and flow
of sediments directly into the river and water bodies and sump capacity should be designed keeping 50%
safety margin over and above peak sudden rainfall (based on 50 years data) and
maximum discharge in the area adjoining the mine site. Sump capacity should
also provide adequate retention period to allow proper settling of silt
material. Sedimentation pits should be constructed at the corners of the
garland drains and desilted at regular
intervals.
(viii)
Dimension of
the retaining wall at the toe of temporary dumps and
(ix)
Plantation
shall be raised in an area of 243.65ha including a 7.5m wide green belt in the
safety zone around the mining lease, backfilled area, roads etc. by planting
the native species in consultation with the local DFO/Agriculture Department.
The density of the trees should be around 2500 plants per ha.
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(x)
Effective
safeguard measures such as regular water sprinkling shall be carried out in
critical areas prone to air pollution and having high levels of SPM and RPM
such as haul road, loading and unloading point and transfer points. It should
be ensured that the Ambient Air Quality parameters conform to the norms
prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board in this regard.
(xi)
The project
authority shall implement suitable conservation measures to augment ground
water resources in the area in consultation with the Regional Director, Central
Ground Water Board.
(xii)
Regular
monitoring of ground water level and quality should be carried out in and
around the mine lease by establishing a network of existing wells and
constructing new piezometers during the mining
operation. The monitoring should be carried out four times in a year ?
pre-monsoon (April-May), monsoon (August), post-monsoon (November) and winter
(January) and the data thus collected may be sent regularly to Ministry of
Environment and Forests and its Regional Office, Bhubaneswar,
Central Ground Water Authority and Regional Director, Central Ground Water
Board.
(xiii)
Appropriate mitigative measures should be taken to prevent pollution of
(xiv)
The project proponent shall obtain necessary prior permission of the competent
authorities for drawl of ground water and/or surface
water if any, required for the project.
(xv)
Suitable
rainwater harvesting measures on long term basis shall be planned and
implemented in consultation with Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board.
(xvi)
Vehicular
emissions shall be kept under control and regularly monitored. Measures shall
be taken for maintenance of vehicles used in mining operations and in
transportation of mineral. The vehicles should be covered with a tarpaulin and
shall not be overloaded.
(xvii)
Blasting
operation should be carried out only during the daytime. Controlled blasting
should be practiced. The mitigative measures for
control of ground vibrations and to arrest fly rocks and boulders should be
implemented.
(xviii) Drills shall either be operated with dust
extractors or equipped with water injection system.
(xix)
Consent to
operate shall be obtained from State Pollution Control Board prior to start of
production from the mine.
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(xx)
Sewage
treatment plant should be installed for the colony. ETP should also be provided
for workshop and wastewater generated during mining operation.
(xxi)
Digital
processing of the entire lease area using remote sensing technique should be
done regularly once in three years for monitoring land use pattern and report
submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and its Regional Office, Bhubneswar.
(xxii)
The project
proponent should take all precautionary measures during mining operation for
conservation and protection of endangered fauna such as tiger, four horned antelope, leopard cat, leopard, wolf, python etc. spotted
in the study area. Action plan for conservation of flora and fauna prepared shall
be implemented in consultation with the
(xxiii) A Final Mine Closure Plan along with
details of Corpus Fund should be submitted to the Ministry of Environment &
Forests 5 years in advance of final mine closure for approval.
B. General
conditions
(i)
No
change in mining technology and scope of working should be made without prior
approval of the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
(ii)
No
change in the calendar plan including excavation, quantum of mineral bauxite
and waste should be made.
(iii)
Four
ambient air quality-monitoring stations should be established in the core zone
as well as in the buffer zone for RPM, SPM, SO2 & NOx monitoring. Location of the stations should be decided
based on the meteorological data, topographical features and environmentally
and ecologically sensitive targets and frequency of monitoring should be undertaken in consultation with the State Pollution
Control Board.
(iv)
Data
on ambient air quality (RPM, SPM, SO2 &
NOx) should be regularly submitted to the Ministry
including its Regional office located at Bhubneshwar
and the State Pollution Control Board / Central Pollution Control Board once in
six months.
(v)
Fugitive
dust emissions from all the sources should be controlled regularly. Water
spraying arrangement on haul roads, loading and unloading and at transfer
points should be provided and properly maintained.
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(vi)
Measures
should be taken for control of noise levels below 85 dBA
in the work environment. Workers engaged in operations of HEMM, etc. should be
provided with ear plugs / muffs.
(vii)
Industrial
waste water (workshop and waste water from the mine) should be properly
collected, treated so as to conform to the standards prescribed under GSR 422 (E) dated
(viii) Personnel working in dusty areas
should wear protective respiratory devices and they should also be provided
with adequate training and information on safety and health aspects.
Occupational health surveillance program of the
workers should be undertaken periodically to observe any contractions due to
exposure to dust and take corrective measures, if needed.
(ix)
A
separate environmental management cell with suitable qualified personnel should
be set-up under the control of a Senior Executive, who will report directly to
the Head of the Organization.
(x)
The
project authorities should inform to the Regional Office located at Bhubneshwar regarding date of financial closures and final
approval of the project by the concerned authorities and the date of start of
land development work.
(xi)
The
funds earmarked for environmental protection measures should be kept in
separate account and should not be diverted for other purpose. Year wise
expenditure should be reported to the Ministry and its Regional Office located
at Bhubneshwar.
(xii)
The
Regional Office of this Ministry located at Bhubneshwar
shall monitor compliance of the stipulated conditions. The project authorities
should extend full cooperation to the officer (s) of the Regional Office by
furnishing the requisite data / information / monitoring reports.
(xiii) The project proponent
shall submit six monthly report on the status of the
implementation of the stipulated environmental safeguards to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, its Regional Office, Bhubneshwar, Central Pollution
Control Board and State Pollution Control Board.
(xiv) A copy of clearance letter will be
marked to concerned Panchayat / local NGO, if any,
from whom and suggestion / representation has been received while processing
the proposal.
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(xv)
State
Pollution Control Board should display a copy of the clearance letter at the
Regional office, District Industry Centre and Collector`s office/ Tehsildar`s Office for 30 days.
(xvi) The project authorities should
advertise at least in two local newspapers widely circulated, one of which
shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned, within 7 days of
the issue of the clearance letter informing that the project has been accorded
environmental clearance and a copy of the clearance letter is available with
the State Pollution Control Board and also at web site of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests at http://envfor.nic.in
and a copy of the same should be forwarded to the Regional Office of this
Ministry located at Bhubneshwar.
3. The Ministry or any other competent
authority may alter/modify the above conditions or stipulate any further
condition in the interest of environment protection.
4. Failure to comply with any of the
conditions mentioned above may result in withdrawal of this clearance and
attract action under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
5. The above conditions will be enforced
inter-alia, under the provisions of the Water
(Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention &
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 along with their amendments and rules made
thereunder and also any other orders passed by the Hon?ble Supreme Court of India/ High Court of Orissa and
any other Court of Law relating to the subject matter.
6. Any appeal against this environmental
clearance shall lie with the National Environment Appellate Authority, if
preferred within a period of 30 days as prescribed under Section 11 of the
National Environment Appellate Act, 1997.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Additional Director (S)
Copy to:
(i)
The Secretary,
Ministry of Mines, Government of
(ii)
The Secretary,
Department of Environment, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
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(iii)
The Secretary,
Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
(iv)
The Secretary,
Department of Forests, Government of Orissa, Secretariat,
(v)
The Chief
Wildlife Warden, Government of Orissa,
(vi)
The Chairman,
Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh
Bhawan, CBD-cum-Office Complex,
(vii)
The Chief
Conservator of Forests, Regional Office (EZ), Ministry of Environment and
Forests, A-3 Chandrashekharpur, Bhubaneshwar-751023.
(viii)
The Chairman,
(ix)
The Member
Secretary, Central Ground Water Authority, A2,
(x)
The District
Collector, Koraput District, Orissa.
(xi)
EI Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests, EI Division,
(xii)
Monitoring
File.
(xiii)
Guard File.
(xiv)
Record File.
(SATISH C. GARKOTI)
Additional Director (S)