Final Environmental Impact Assessment of Smt. Singam Bhavani Laterite Mining ADDITIONAL STUDIES

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1 ADDITIONAL STUDIES 7.0 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN It is presumed that the proposed mining process would be designed and engineered with all possible safety measures and standard code of practices. In spite of this, there may be some design deficiency or due to operations and maintenance faults wich may lead to accidental events causing damage of life and property. This chapter presents an over view of environmental risk associated with various mining operations, suggested remedial measures and on outline of the emergency preparedness plan. 7.1 Risk Assessment The objectives of environmental risk assessment are governed by the following, which excludes natural calamites. a. To identify the potential hazardous areas so that necessary design safety measures can be adopted to minimize the probability of accidents. b. To identify the potential areas of environmental disaster, which can be prevented by proper design of the installations and their control operations. c. To manage emergency situations or a disastrous event, if any, from the mining operations. 7.2 Identification of Hazards During the proposed operations of the open-cast mine, the following risks have been expected. 1. Filling up the mine pit due to excessive rains. 2. Failure of slope in the pit. 3. Failure of slope of external dump 4. Accidents of heavy machinery 5. Surface fire (Electrical and Oil) Filling up the mine pit due to excessive rains Filling up the mine pit due to excessive rains in the worked out area is a remote possibility. Normally there will be sufficient warning time before such an incident takes place, harming 118

2 equipment and human life. However, as a precautionary measure, interceptor ditches along the outer boundary of the pit area constructed to control inflow of runoff into the mine pits. Water that collects in the mine pit from rainfall will be coursed out from the pits, through garland drains Failure of slope in the pit The mine benches shall be only 6m in height and no slope failure is anticipated Failure of slope of external dump The slope of external dumps have been initially planned at the angle of repose of dump material. However, as they attain final position, the slopes will be terraced and proer vegetation will be laid which will cause lowering of the slope as well as binding of the soil, preventing any slope failure Accidents of heavy machinery Most of the accidents during transfer of dumpers, trucks and other vehicles are often attributed to mechanical failures. Regular maintenance and testing of all mine equipment as per manufacturers guide lines can largely eliminate accidents of heavy machinery Surface fire Spillage of HSD and resultant fire constitutes a potential risk. The quantity of the maximum oil, which can spill, is not much can be easily controlled. Sufficient numbers of portable fire extinguishers has been provided at strategic locations to take care of any eventuality. 7.3 Preparedness Plan In order to take care of above hazards/disasters the following measures have been envisaged. Checking and regular maintenance of garland drains will be taken to avoid any in flow of surface water into the mine pit. Provision of high capacity pumps for pumping out water from mining pit. Regulation 1961 will be strictly followed during all mine operations. Entry to unauthorized persons will be prohibited. Training and refresher courses for all employees working in hazardous places. 119

3 Working of mine, as per approved plans and regularly updated. Clearing of mine faces will be regularly done. Warning notice boards indicating the time of blasting and NOT TO TRESS PASS are displayed prominently. Regular maintenance and testing of all mining equipment as per manufacturer s guidelines. Suppression of dust on haulage roads. Increasing the awareness of safety and disaster through competitions, posters and other similar drives. As a part of disaster management, a rescue team is formed by imparting specialized training to select mining staff. 7.4 TRAINING The training of mine personnel is conducted regularly with respect to environmental protection. Training facilities are also extended to equipment maintenance and operations also to the operators. Training will cover the following fields. Awareness regarding pollution control and environmental protection Operations and maintenance of pollution control equipment. Afforestation / plantation and post care of plants. Field monitoring, maintenance and calibration of pollution monitoring instruments. Chemical analysis of various environmental parameters at laboratory. Repair of pollution monitoring instruments. Knowledge of norms, regulations and procedures. Occupational health and safety. Risk assessment and disaster management plan. 7.5 IMPLEMENTATION OF EMP AND MONITORING SYSTEM General Various measures have been proposed to implement for mitigating the adverse impacts due to mining on the environment in the area. A separate wing Environmental Management Cell (EMC) will be formed to look after the inspection / monitoring requirements. The mine management will undertake the control measures in coordination with the State Forest 120

4 Department, Regional APPCB and Environmental consultant. The management of environmental shall be made an integral part of the major activities of mining. Mines Manager Geologist (Incharge of monitoring and Supervision Engineer/ Asst. Manager Foreman Dust Suppression Supervisor Helpers Fig.7.1 Organizational setup of EMC Important records to be maintained by EMC are: Field monitoring results for air, water, meteorology Inspection records of slope failure, land erosion, drainage, socio-economic development. Format to record / monitor plantation measures. Nursery records Environmental and related standards / norms Records pertaining to statutory consents, approvals Periodic medical examination (PME) records. Records pertaining to laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration. Complaint register (environmental pollution) Records on water and electricity consumption Periodic progress records Environmental audit records Records of annual budgetary requirement and allocation for pollution control. 121

5 7.6 IMPLEMENTATION The following system shall be followed to see that the environmental scheme is implemented as per schedule. a) A separate wing will be created to see that the engineering measures such as construction of check dams and retention walls are taken up, wherever necessary. b) A crew attends for afforestation measures on a regular basis for culturing, manuring and watering. c) On an annual/quarterly basis, the quality of air, water, noise and soil will be monitored to understand the status vis-à-vis the baseline data. This will enable the management for taking up any corrective measures, if required. The frequency of sampling will be as prescribed by the MOEF guidelines issued in this regard. 7.7 ACTIVITIES TO BE MONITORED / INSPECTED BY EMC Land erosion Regular observations during the rainy season for checking land erosion will be made in back filled areas / hill slopes Drainage The effectiveness of drainage system depends upon proper cleaning of all drains and sumps. Any blockage due to silting or accumulation of loose materials will be checked on regular basis. Stone pitching, brick mounds etc on drains shall also be monitored Revegetation and green belt development Planned schedule for green belt development will be checked after every year and improvement required will be implemented. Post plantation status will be regularly checked in every season. Phase wise development in the areas of plantation including rate of growth, survival rate etc. will be recorded systematically Air quality monitoring PM 10, PM 2.5, NO X, SO 2 and Silica will be monitored every month in both core and buffer zones as per the APPCB directions. 122

6 7.7.5 Water Quality Monitoring Surface runoff during rainy season will be monitored for ph, TDS, SS, Alumina and Mn and SS, Fe and Mn and SO 4 ² contents. Ground water quality is monitored seasonally for the above parameters also Occupational health Each group of mine workers undergo regular medical checkup at regular intervals by specialist doctors Socio-economic development As a part of the social responsibilities, the project proponent will take up the following peripheral developmental works. Encouraging entrepreneurship among locals by vocational training. Upgrading one primary school. Health camps Distribution of school uniforms and books to needy students Cultural activities in the villages Provision or free Transportation of patients Preferential employment to the local people depending upon their qualification and suitability of post. 7.8 SUGGESTED ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMME No management plan would give the desired results unless it is monitored regularly, analysed and corrective actions taken accordingly. It may be noted that environmental management plan document should not be considered as a conclusive one. It shall be updated regularly for the purpose of having an effective management of the environment. This can be achieved by conducting regular environmental audits and planned targets. A monitoring programme is suggested, which is presented in table 7.1 to check the efficiency of the environmental measures adopted in the proposed Laterite Mine. 123

7 Table 7.1: Suggested environmental monitoring programme S. No. Monitoring Frequency of Major parameters Activity Location Monitoring To be monitored 1. Micrometeorology At Mine office Weekly once Temp. R.H., rainfall wind speed and directions 2. Ambient air quality (AAQ) At least 3 fixed locations in the ML area and 2 fixed Preferably Quarterly once for PM10,PM2.5, SO 2, NO X and Silica stations at the foot hills/ near by villages (one down wind and the other at upwind direction 24 hours period during dry seasons of the year. 3. Dust fall rate At one of the AAQ stations Quarterly Total dust fall. in ML area. 4. Work zone noise Noise prone areas of ML Quarterly noise area. 5. Drinking water From drinking water Monthly once As per IS:10500(91) supplier source 6. Land erosion Core and relevant area of Rainy season Erosion potential buffer zones 7. Drainage Garland drains of dumps Post monsoon - sites, gullies 8. Inventory of flora Core zone Every year Plantation status, survival rate. 9. Soil quality Core zone Every Year Soil fertility for growth of plants 10. Socio-economic Local population of buffer Once in 2 years Per captia income, condition zone diseases, living conditions health campus. 124