BENTI-BAGDA LIMESTONE OPENCAST PROJECT

(60, 000 TPA)

OF

JHARKHAND STATE MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. LTD.

KHANIJ NIGAM BHAWAN

DORANDA, RANCHI – 834002

JHARKHAND

(LEASEHOLD – 135.508 Ha)

Public Hearing The Terms of Reference for environmental studies for the project requires that public Heaving be organized for the project. Accordingly Public Hearing was organized by Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board. Proceedings of public Heaving are enclosed at Anemone F Relevant information regarding Public Hearing is furbished below;

(i) Notice for P.H. Date DanikaJag ran - 05.03.10 Hindustan Times - 05.03.10

(ii) Premises Govt. Primary School, Benti - 05.04.10

Sri Bhogendra Baski Addl collector, Ranchi presided over the public Heaving proceedings. Sri Dilip Kumar Regional officer J.S.P.C.B & Sri M. Jha, JSPCB co- ordinate the proceedings. Sri Baithe, local MLA also participated in Public Hearing proceeding. Participants of Public Hearing supported the re-opening of the lime. Detailed proceeding of Public Hearing are given in Annexure – VIII. In course of Public Hearing certain issues were raised. The Proponent is reply to these observation issues raised assured them that appropriate action will be taken. The Action plan for addressing the issues raised by the participants has been prepared and given in Table 7.4.

Table: 7.4 Action Plan for the Public Hearing

Sl. No. Issues Raised Action to be taken Time Frame Amount

1. Scarcity of Potable water.

The proponent will take up the matter with P.HED of State Govt. to provide additional hand up in the villages in Study Area.

Will take up immediately with concerned agency.

Fund will be made available from budget of State Govt..

2. Opportunity of Employment & economic activities.

Open the mine again & often employment in Project related activities to local people.

Action has been taken to open the mine again.

Project Cost.

3. The local school should be upgraded up to 10th class.

The Project Proponent would take up the matter with State Govt. to upgrade the primary school.

Action to be taken immediately after mine is opened.

Annual budget of State Govt..

4. What step the Project Proponent going to take to alleviate poverty in the area.

This aspect is already covered under the State Govt.’s Plan for poverty alleviation.

Action already taken by State Govt.

Programme being funded by State Govt.

5. What the Project proponent is going to do about improvement in health care facilities in the area.

The Project Proponent will take up the issue with State Health Dept. to strengthen the local PHC. In term of supply of medicine etc. as per the norms prescribed by the State Govt. in this respect.

Action to be taken as soon as Project is opened.

Necessary fund for this activities will be made available by State Govt. out of their annual budget.

6. What action the Project Proponent would take to reduce environment pollution.

The EIA/EMP prepared by the Project Proponent recommend.

7. Pollution mitigation measures to be taken to control pollution necessary budget has also been provided for this purpose.

The Project Proponent will implement all the pollution mitigation measures as recommended in EIA/EMP.

Pollution mitigation measure will be implemented as part of the project activities.

Fund provided for this purpose in EIA/EMP will be utilized.

8. What action the Project Proponent is to taken for providing electricity.

The Project Proponent has already provided power network in the Project Area. Consumer have to take connections themselves.

Action taken.

Proceeding of Public Hearing organized for Jharkhand State Mineral Development

Corporation for grant of environmental clearance

1.0 In pursuance to provision of the rules, the district administration and

Jharkhand state pollution control board organized public hearing for grant

of environmental clearance to Benti-Bagda limestone opencast mine on

05.04.2010 at 11:00 an in the premises of primary school Benti. Notice of

this meeting was published in following newspapers.

DainikJagran - 5.03.10

Hindustan Times - 5.03.10

2.0 Attendance of officers of district administration and Jharkhand State

Pollution Control Board are given in App. A.

3.0 Sri RamchendraBaitha, the local MLA was also present in the hearing.

Initiating the proceedings, Sri Dilip Kumar, Regional officer, J.S.P.C.B

welcomed Sri BhogendraBaski, Addl Collector, Ranchi who was

representing D.C Ranchi and the villagers present in the hearing, He also

explained in brief the need for such public hearing. He explained the

importance of the project under consideration. He informed that the mine

produced limestone till 2005. After that the mine was closed as the lease

period expired. Now the corporation has prepared mining plan for next 5

years. EIA has been prepared for renewal of lease and grant of

environmental clearance. He requested the villagers to listen to the

presentation of the project authorities regarding proposed environmental

mitigation measures and then ask questions one by one to clarify their

doubts.

Sri Kumar, then requested project authorities to present the project report

and also give a description of environmental pollution mitigation measures

proposed.

4.0 After that Sri Chandrama Mishra, Genral Manager (Mines), Jharkhand

State Mineral Development corporation Ltd. Presented a brief of project

report for the mine. He informed that mine was operated till 2005 & it was

closed on account of following reasons.

1. The validity of mining lease was over.

2. Forest land required for mining was not available.

The corporation has now prepared mining plan for next five years. The

corporation has also taken necessary steps for renewal of mining lease.

The Corporation has also prepared EIA/EMP for grant of environmental

clearance.

He also informed that 40000 T of limestone will be produced by

opencast method. Total area of mining lease is 135.52 ha. The limestone

will be transported to railway siding by truck & from there it will be

transported by Rail.

Overburden removed during the mining will be stored in external

dump. For mining of limestone, blasting will be done using explosive.

Limestone will be loaded into truck by shovel.

5.0 After this, Sri Shishir Kumar, Consultant, threw light on environmental

pollution arising out of mining activities and described briefly proposed

mitigation measures.

He informed that in first stage, the quality of various environmental

attributes e.g. air, surface water, ground water, noise level have been

monitored. These monitoring has been done at various stations. These

stations have been selected based on guidelines issued by the ministry of

Environment.

He informed that quality of air and water, and level of noise

conforms to prescribed standard. He further informed that level of ground

water is below the level of floor of mine pits.

It was informed that presently mining activities are confined to 19.5

ha. and in next fine years, mining activities will be confined to this area

only. That impact of mining activities on different attributes of

environment e.g. air, water, land, and noise have been assessed. As per this

assessment, the level of pollution after the impact are likely to remain

within prescribed level.

After this Sri Kumar discussed following proposed environmental

pollution mitigation measures.

(A) Following air pollution mitigation measures are proposed.

1. A roads within mining area will be made Pucca.

2. There will be regular water sprinkling within mining area.

3. Green belt will be developed within the mining area.

4. All those trucks which will carry limestone will be covered with

Tarpaulin.

(B) Mitigation measures to control water pollution.

1. Open drain will be provided around the pits. These drains will

collect surface run-off flowing towards mine water, collected in

these drains and water pumped from mine will be collected in

sedimentation pond.

2. Sewage generated in the mining area will be treated in septic tank.

(C) Land Reclamation

It was also informed that all eight existing dumps will be reclaimed in

next four years. On reclaimed dumps, trees of those species will be used

that are useful for local people e.g. fodder, firewood, and fruit bearing,

simultaneously new dumps will also be reclaimed. On completion of

mining operation, pits will be backfilled with overburden materials. On

leveling of backfilled area, trees will be planted.

(D) Noise pollution mitigation.

For mitigation of noise pollution, following measures are proposed.

1. During mining operation, all mining equipments would be

maintained properly. This will reduce noise pollution.

2. All mining equipments will operate during day time, of mining

operation.

6.0 After the presentation by mine management, Sri Dilip Kumar, Regional

Officer, J.S.P.C.B requested the villagers present to ask their questions

one by one to clarify their doubts.

After the villagers living in the area asked their questions.

The mine management gave satisfactory answers to all questions “App D

contains questions asked by villagers and answer given by mine

authorities.

7.0 On end of question answer session, Sri Kumar R.O., JSPCB requested Sri

Baitha to give his opinion.

Sri Baitha told that, he has been associated with the project for a long time.

He was disappointed on closure of the mine. He is very happy that the

mine is again re-opening. People will get job in the project Simultaneously,

the project will contribute to overall development of the area. He requested

project authorities to pay attention to social development of the area. It

should be ensured that environmental pollution should be effectively

mitigated. He thanked the project authorities for re-opening the project.

8.0 After that Sri Kumar R.O., JSPCB requested Sri BhogendraBaski to give

his opinion. The Add. Collector appreciated the decision to re-open the

project. He expressed that the project will contribute to socio-economic

development of the area. He advised the mines authority to pay special

attention to mitigate environmental pollution. He suggested that a

committee comprising of one member each from local panchayat, village,

mine management & JSPCB be constituted to keep a vigilance over

environment pollution control.

He also reminded that villagers have some aspirations from the project

which should be fulfilled by mines management.

9.0 After this Sri Kumar requested Sri Bariyar, Director D.I.C to give vote of

thanks Sri Bariyar thanked Addl. Collector Sri BhogendraBaski, Sri Dilip

Kumar R.O., JSPCB, Sri Mithilesh Jha, & Sri Gopal Kumar, JSPCB, for

sparing their valuable time to make the P.H. successful. Sri Bariyaa

thanked police officers present, & members of press for attending the P.H.

Sri Bariyar thanked the villagers who attended the hearing and gave their

suggestions. Sri Bariyar also thanked local MLA Sri Baitha who spared his

time from his busy schedule & attended the meeting. He thanked the

project authorities for starting the project.

10.0 Sri Kumar R.O., JSPCB with Permission of Chairman of the public hearing

adjourned the meeting.

Mithilesh Jha Dilip Kumar Addl. Collection

JSPCB R.O Ranchi

JSPCB

JharkhandState Pollution Control Board Town Administration Building, HEC, Dhurwa, Ranchi

Tel-0651-2400851, Fax : 0651-2400850

M/S Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd

(Benti- Bagda Lime Stone Project)

Minutes of Public Hearing Meeting held on 05.04.2010.

Sl No. Name & address Question asked by Public/

Members

Answer given by company representative

1. Ruplal Mahto

Vill-Bagda

P.O- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

There is problem of water. What will

you do for development &

employment.

(i) JSMDC Ltd. will contact State Ground Water Board

of State Govt. and make efforts through State Govt. to

provide hand tube wells in villages around the mine

(ii) Company representative informed that employment

opportunities will be created with opening of mine.

2. Arjun Bhogta

Vill- Bagda

P.O- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

1. What will be done to improve

status of poor?

2. What will be done for problem

for food?

3. School existing in the village is

small. Arrangements should be

done for teaching upto class 10

1. With the opening of mine, employment

opportunities will be created. With that there will be

avelliation of poverty. Indirectly, opportunity for

economic development will be available. Income

level of people will increase.

2. Sri Misra, G.M. (Mines), JSMDC Ltd. said that with

availability of employment opportunities &

consequently rise in income and purchasing power

of people in the area, problem of food will be solved.

3. Sri Misra assured the people that the corporation will

take up with education deptt. of State Govt. to

upgrade the existing primary school to high school

to facilities for imparting education upto class 10.

Sl No. Name & address Question asked by Public/

Members

Answer given by company representative

3. Mrs Parvati Devi

Vill- Bagda

P.S- Chaingarha

Dist-Ranchi.

1. What is going to be done for

employment?

2. What will be done to control air

and noise pollution to which

children of School will be

exposed?

1. With opening of the mine, opportunity for

employment will be generated.

2. The company representative informed that

appropriate air & noise pollution control measures

are proposed which will ensure level of pollution

within limits.

4. Mrs. Sumitra Devi

Vill- Benti

P.O- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

1. What the company is going to

do for health care facilities in

the area?

2. What is going to be done for

employment?

3. What is going to be done for

control of pollution?

1. Company representative informed that the company

would take up the matter with health deptt. of State

Govt. to set up a primary health centre in the area.

2. Employment opportunities will be generated with

opening of the mine.

3 The company representative informed that there is

detailed proposal for mitigation of environmental

pollution, This will ensure that the pollution level

will be within the prescribed limit.

5. Prakash Ganjhu

Vill- Benti

P.O- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

My father used to work for

JSMDC Ltd. During his tenure in

corporation, he died on 25.06.04.

Necessary papers have been

submitted in head quarter, but I

have not got job. I have financial

problem.

The company representative assured that the problem

will be solved soon & employment will be given on

compassionate ground as per rule.

Sl No. Name & address Question asked by Public/

Members

Answer given by company representative

6. Rooplal Mahto

Vill-Bagda

P.S.- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

What is going to be done for

problem of electricity and water?

Company representative said that issue of water has

been earlier addressed. Regarding electricity, Sri

Misra informed that the electricity distribution

network exists. He assured that he will take up the

matter with electricity deptt. to ensure uninterrupted

supply of electricity in the area.

7. Birsa Bhogta

Vill-Benti

P.S- Chaingarha

Dist-Ranchi

What is going to be done for

housing problem?

The Management assured that under the govt. scheme,

with the help of district administration, problem of

housing will be sorted out.

8. Teacher

Govt.Primary

School, Benti

Ranchi

There is no handpump in the

school. As such there is problem

of drinking water.

The Corporation will take up the matter with State

Ground Water Board for providing handpumps in the

area including one in school.

9. Dasrath Sao

Vill- Benti

P.O- Chaingara

Dist- ranchi

What the company is going to do

for hospital and medicine?

Company representative informed that this issue has

already been dealt in reply to question earlier.

Sl No. Name & address Question asked by Public/

Members

Answer given by company representative

10. Sri Lakhan Mahto

Vill- Tala road

P.o- Patratu

Dist- Ranchi

What is going to be done to mitigate

the environmental pollutions?

What is going to be done for road

& employment?

Sri Misra replied that the pollution mitigation

measures proposed by the company would ensure

limiting the pollution level to prescribed limit.

Sri Misra replied that an access road exists. The

Corporation maintains this road.

With the opening of mine, opportunity for

employment will be generated.

11. Sri Nasebe lal Mahto

Vill- Bagda

P.O- Chaingarha

Dist- Ranchi

1. What is going to be done for

transport & employment?

Mr. Misra clarified that the existing road is being

maintained by the corporation.

With the opening of mine, avenues for

employment will be generated.