JHILINGBURU I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING …environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/04...Jhillingburu – I Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project was considered in the

JHILINGBURU – I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING PROJECT

Proposed ToR Page 1 of 14

Background:

Jhillingburu – I Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project was considered in the Reconstituted

Expert Appraisal Committee for Environmental Appraisal of Mining Projects (Non-Coal) of the

MoEFCC during June 20-22th, 2012 for prescribing Terms of Reference (TOR). While appraising

the subject project for Terms of Reference (TOR) by EAC during aforesaid meeting, the violation

of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was pointed out and MoEFCC vide letter No. J-

11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 08.05.2013 directed SAIL to take appropriate action as per

Circular J11013/41/2006-IA.II (I) dated 12th December, 2012.

Accordingly, in compliance of circular dated 12.12.2012, copy of Board Resolution was

submitted to MoEFCC on 01.06.2013 and Jharkhand Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) informed

MoEFCC vide letter dated 25.11.2014 that Criminal case has been initiated against SAIL in the

Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate West Singhbhum at Chaibasa to take cognizance of offence by

the said court under Section 15 of the E(P) Act, 1986. After the procedural intimation to

MoEFCC, vide letter no. J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015, MoEFCC had issued TOR

for undertaking detailed EIA study the project. Copy of the approved TOR is appended below:















Based on the above ToR (J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015), EIA study was conducted. A brief on anticipated impacts and its corresponding mitigation measures suggested in the EIA/EMP report for re-opening of Jhillingburu-I project is tabulated below:

Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

Air Quality Drilling and Blasting

PM10, SO2 and NOx

Adverse Use of dust aprons on drilling equipment and adopting wet drilling methods.

A. Delay blasting under unfavorable wind and

atmospheric conditions The production of blast fumes containing noxious gases

will be reduced by the following methods:

Use of adequate booster/primer; and

Proper stemming of the blast hole.

Scientific design of blast.

B Drills fitted with dust collection system to be

deployed or using wet drilling method. C. Development of greenbelt.

Overburden removal,

extraction of

manganese ore, Loading

/ unloading of

overburden

and manganese

ore, stock piling of ore,

dumping of overburden

at dump sites

within ML area

Increase in SPM levels in

ambient air

due to dust generation

and NOx, HC, SO2 and

CO

concentration levels in

ambient air due to

vehicular emissions.

Adverse Sprinkling of water on haul roads at regular

intervals.

Installing permanent water sprinklers at strategic

areas/locations/stretches

Regular maintenance of vehicles and machinery will

be carried out

Cabins for shovel and dumpers and dust respirators

to workmen will be provided. All HEMM cabins will

be air-conditioned.

Dust suppression will be done on exposed area

using water trucks and sprinkler

Greenbelt development will be taken up all along

the haul roads

Separate storage of top soil for progressive

reclamation of dumps and mined out area backfilled

with overburden material.

Re-vegetation of mined out area and inactive dumps

and

A good housekeeping and proper maintenance will

be practiced which will help in controlling pollution.

Transportation of

overburden and

manganese

ore

-do- Adverse Use of covered dumpers/tippers for transportation of manganese ore

Regular water sprinkling on haul, access roads and all transfer points.

Haul roads to be maintained by surface grading to

minimize excessive road surface wearing. Roads no longer required will be re-vegetated as soon as



Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

possible.

General equipment

operations

Increase in SPM, NOx

and CO

concentrations in

ambient air.

Adverse Regular maintenance of all equipment to minimize particulate matter and gaseous emissions from diesel

driven vehicles & equipment.

Use of non-electric initiation and computerized blast design to maximize the explosive energy for

fragmentation and minimum fume generation in blast.

All activities Excessive exposures to

airborne particulate

matter.

Adverse Personal protective will be provided to all workers working in dusty environment

Noise Levels and Ground

Vibrations

Drilling and Blasting

High impulsive

noise levels, overpressure

and ground

vibrations impacts and

noise related community

annoyance

Adverse Noise Control Measures

Controlled blasting with proper spacing, burden and

stemming will be maintained;

No secondary blasting

Minimum quantity of detonating fuse will be

consumed by using alternatively Excel non-

electrical initiation system;

The blasting will be carried out during favorable

atmospheric condition and less human activity

timings;

Provision of sound insulated chambers for the

workers deployed on machines (HEMM)

Green belt (7.5 m wide) has been developed all

along the four block boundaries to attenuate noise.

A thick tree belt will be provided in phased manner

around the periphery of the mine to attenuate

noise;

Trees will be planted on both sides of haul roads.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like ear

muffs/ear plugs will be provided to the operators of

HEMM and persons working near HEMM; and

Reducing the exposure time of workers to the

higher noise levels.

Measures to Control Ground Vibration

Proper quantity of explosive, suitable stemming

materials and appropriate delay system are to be

adopted for safe blasting. Computerized blast

design to be used.

A safe blasting zone is kept around the periphery of

the quarry.

Machine and transportatio

n of overburden

and

manganese ore within

the ML area.

Increase in noise levels

occupational hazard due

to noise

exposures and increase

in ambient noise levels.

Adverse



Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

Overcharging will be avoided;

The charge per delay will be minimized and

preferably more number of delays will be used per

blasts;

Water

Resources and Quality

Working

above water table

No reduction

in groundwater

availability as the working

is above

ground water table

Beneficial The main source of industrial water to cater to the

needs of plant/ facilities in the ML area will be through nearby flowing Karo river.

Mine Drainage:

The garland drains will be developed in advance for

each mine stage such that water is collected in

these garland drains and discharged properly into

settling tanks to settle out suspended solids in the

storm water. The clarified water is reused for green

belt development.

The overall drainage planning will be done in such a

manner that the existing pre-mining drainage

conditions should be maintained to the extent

possible, so that run off distribution is not affected.

Water accumulated in voids shall be used as source

of water to help maintaining the water table.

Working faces will be laid such that the water from

the working areas will flow into the sump by gravity

from where it will be pumped out to sumps.

Face pumps of adequate capacity will be provided

at working faces to keep these dry.

Stone pitching shall be made at suitable places to

regulate water flow.

The settling tank and drains are cleaned

periodically, especially during monsoons.

Surface Water Pollution Control Measures

Retaining walls of adequate dimensions will be

provided at the toe of dumps and the unstable OB

benches within the mine to prevent wash off from

dumps and sliding of material from benches. This

will help in preventing silting of water

drains/channels;

The water channels/drains carrying the rain water

from the mine will be provided with baffles and

settling pits to arrest the suspended solids, if any,

present in this water;

The worked out slopes will be stabilized by planting

appropriate shrub/grass species on the slopes. This

will help in preventing wash-off of manganese ore

from these slopes;

The mine water will be regularly tested for presence

Water required for

mine, (dust suppression

systems,

workshop, domestic

facilities and greenbelt

development)

Entire water demand for

the industrial use will be

met from the

nearby flowing Karo

rivers

Adverse

Waste water generated

from mine & domestic

usage at mine.

Deterioration in ground

water and soil quality

when used

untreated water for

greenbelt development

Adverse



Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

of any undesirable elements and appropriate

measures will be taken in case any element is found

exceeding the limits prescribed by CPCB; and

Ground Water Pollution Control Measures

The domestic sewage from the canteen and toilets

will be routed to septic tanks followed by soak pits.

The workshop effluent will be routed through oil &

grease trap and treated to the discharge standards

and reused in the workshop.

Regular monitoring of water levels and quality in

the existing open wells and bore well in the vicinity

will be carried out. If found necessary, additional

observation wells will be sunk for monitoring the

water table levels and quality around the mine

representing both upstream and downstream

conditions.

Drainage

pattern and Hydrogeology

Mining

operations and waste dump

Catchment

area inside the mine will

be affected.

Adverse No surface streams have been proposed to be diverted

for the project. The pre-mining surface drainage pattern shall be maintained as far as possible.

Landuse and Soil

Characteristics

Commencement of Mining &

allied activities

Existing landuse of

the core zone will

alter.

Land degradation

due to disposal of

waste

materials.

Adverse The area in and around Jhillingburu I ML has a number of forested hillocks and mostly unfertile land. In the

buffer zone there are other mines also. In these mining areas, most of the original natural vegetation has been

cut down and only a few of the original trees are still

remaining. However, following measures will be taken:

Construction/ Installation of diversion drains and

sediment fences prior to starting earthworks.

Dust suppression on exposed areas using water

tankers and automatic sprinkling systems.

Contour overburden dump to minimize erosion.

Plantation around service building, along road in

and around the safety zone using native plant

sapling.

Backfilling & re-handling of external OB dump as

per approved Progressive Mine Closure Plan.

Compliance with mine decommissioning plan.

The following precautions will be taken to reduce the risk of dump failure:

OB benches will be made of <10m height in each

tier.

Angle of repose of OB dump to be around 37o.

Construction of toe wall around the OB dump.

Drainage control structure like garland drains to be

made around OB dump area to avoid water flow

during monsoon below the OB dump.



Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

Leveling, grading and drainage arrangement for top

of OB dumps.

Technical & biological reclamation.

Topsoil to be stored in small heaps (2m high) at

appropriate moisture content with proper

vegetation.

Maintenance of a nursery for planting local variety

of plants and shrubs that support bio-diversity.

Flora and Fauna Mine development

and operations

Transportation

to railway

siding

Displacement of existing

fauna.

Loss of vegetation

Adverse Since, the lease area falls within Ghatkuri Reserve Forest, the vegetation is mainly comprised of trees,

bushes, shrubs and creepers. Attempts will be made to avoid any further damage and loss of flora and

displacement of fauna.

However, besides plantation in the ML area and partly

reclamation of excavated part of quarry-2 area, the compensatory vegetation in ML area has been carried out

at the proposed sites.

Occupational Health & Safety

Overall Mining & allied

activities

Occupational health

problems due to dust

& noise.

Accident

probability due to slope

failure, movement of

HEMM,

handling of explosives.

Adverse Adoption of dust suppression measures like

spraying water, use of drill with dust collection

system or wet drills etc.

Plantation

Avoid blasting during unfavorable wind &

atmospheric conditions

Use of personal protective equipment.

Periodical training of workers

Compliance with DGMS circulars

Emergency response plan that includes installation of emergency response equipment to combat events such

as fire. All personnel required to handle hazardous materials will be provided with personal protective

equipment suitable for the hazardous material being

handled. On-site first aid facilities will be provided to employees

and will be extended to the local community in emergencies.

Socio-economic

Aspects

Land

acquisition for mine site

No

displacement of people &

loss of properties.

- The project does not envisage any leasing or acquisition

of private land. Hence, there won’t be any land oustees who have to be resettled or rehabilitated.

Mining

operations

Increase in

economic status of

local people

& in the region due to

Increase in employment

Beneficial The project will provide ample opportunity to the local

people for direct and in-direct employment. The proposed project may create opportunities for indirect employment

in the field of vehicle hiring, labours, trading of

construction materials, carpenters etc. Corporate Social Responsibility plan has been prepared and the

necessary budgetary allocations have been made for the upliftment of villages.



Environmental

Component

Project

Activities

Impacts Adverse /

Beneficial

Mitigative Measures

opportunities

both direct

and indirect.

Some of the CSR activities are nationally famous viz. fully

residential archery academy, fully residentially Hostel for education, total responsibility of candidate sponsored for

ITI, self- employment through Kiran & Swarojgar Kendra, mobile ambulance, weekly health camps, welfare camps,

eye camps, free medicine to local villagers, provision of drinking water to each household etc.

The facilities of the mine’s hospitals at Gua are also extended to local villagers. Special efforts are made

towards malaria prevention in villages around SAIL’s townships.

A number of benefits are inherently ingrained in the proposal of resumption of mining

operation in Jhillingburu-I ML of Gua Ore Mines which is discussed below:

The re-opening does not envisage any increase in the leasehold area of 30.43 ha. No

rehabilitation and resettlement of land oustees is involved in the project since no private

land is involved. The fugitive emissions from the open cast quarries are not expected to

spread much beyond the mine lease. Nevertheless, necessary measures to minimize

fugitive emissions will be adopted.

Retaining walls/ check dams will be constructed to prevent flow of solid wastes into

Karo nala. Settling pits will be dug at appropriate places to arrests solids present in

storm water run-offs.

There will not be any ground water extraction because the water table lies below the

planned ultimate working depth and the mine will not draw any ground water.

SAIL is committed towards welfare activities of surrounding areas through peripheral

development activities and CSR activities. Since socio-economic backgrounds of the local

inhabitant are not very attractive, the project will help to improve the human

development index.

SAIL has established an Industrial Training Institute for developing the skills of local

youth.

SAIL has developed model villages “STEEL VILLAGE” in near Baraiburu and Guasai.

Some of the CSR activities are of national repute viz. fully residential archery academy,

fully residentially Hostel for education, total responsibility of candidate sponsored for

ITI, self-employment through Kiran & Swarojgar Kendra, mobile ambulance, weekly

health-camps, welfare-camps, eye-camps, free medicine to local villagers, provision of

drinking water to each household etc.

The facilities of the mine’s hospitals at Gua are also extended to local villagers. Special efforts are made towards malaria prevention in villages around SAIL’s townships.

As the area is forest dominated, the main source of livelihood is forest produce and

agricultural activities. However, the operations of mines in surrounding regions have

shifted the source of income more towards services and employment over the years.



The project will also provide a fillip and impetus to the agriculture sector, physical

infrastructures like roads, railways, electricity generation, and distribution along with the

social infrastructures like education, health sector, water supply and training etc. among

the other things.

SAIL will form its own group with participation from local villagers to formulate socio

environmental performance indicators and contrive management programmes with best

management practices for implementation. Thus, SAIL will act as a catalyst for bringing

socio-environmental change in the area.

Air quality, water quality and noise levels will not change by any appreciable margin

(mentioned in chapter 4 of the EIA/EMP report). Thus, changes in environmental quality

on account of reopening of the mine will be minimal and confined mostly within the

lease. There is only a small labour colony within the lease which shall be shielded from

the mining operations. Thus public health is unlikely to be affected by the proposed

project.

Eco-restoration of mined out area will be carried out through JFM (Joint Forest

Management) model.

The project has potential to generate ~ 152 direct and ~ 700 indirect jobs and

development of downstream/ ancillary industries which again in turn will aid in socio-

economic boost.

The project is proposed to invest in Jharkhand ~ Rs. 1000 lakhs which will boost the

revenue of the state.

An appeal: As the mining operations are in vogue since 1919 in the adjacent lease, the neighboring villages in the impact zone are familiar with the operations. In fact SAIL has most of the infrastructure existing at the location; only augmentation of some of the installations is required for the resumption of mining in Jhillingburu I ML. SAIL has participated and committed to participate for improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the local people by generation of direct and indirect employment, providing resources for social capital building etc. in a significant way. Keeping in view of the requirement of manganese ore for SAIL’s growth plan, soundness of the environmental strategy formulated for the project and need for development of the predominantly backward region, implementation of the project is essential. In addition to the prescribed ToR (J-11015/270/2011-IA.II (M) dated 04.03.2015) based on which EIA/EMP study was carried out and Public Hearing process for the project was completed on 12.11.2016. Thereafter, final EIA/EMP report for the project was submitted online to MoEFCC on 04.01.2017 and the proposal was accepted by MoEFCC on 10.02.2017. As per direction of MoEFCC in the acceptance letter dated 10.02.2017, hard copies of the EIA report along other documents was also submitted to MoEFCC, New Delhi on 16.02.2017. Further, in case EAC prescribes any additional ToR (studies/safeguard measures) for the project, SAIL will undertake the same and will submit an additional report with addendum to the already submitted Final EIA Report.

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JHILINGBURU I IRON & MANGANESE ORE MINING …environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Online/TOR/04...Jhillingburu – I Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project was considered in the