ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN LIMESTONE 1. INTRODUCTION: The proposed Bagdhara Limestone area, near Village- Bagdhara, Taluka- Jamjodhpur and District-Jamnagar, Gujarat has been granted to Dipakkumar Anantray Dhuliya. The lease area is 01-01-17Ha. The capacity has been anticipated to be 15,000TPA. The proposed project is aimed at producing Limestone near Village Bagdhara, Taluka- Jamjodhpur, District- Jamnagar. The produce will be used as Construction. The production will be used locally. The lease has been granted in favour of Dipakkumar Anantray Dhuliya. Topography of the Area The topography of the area is monotonously flat with minor undulations. The landform is that of an alluvial tract. The highest elevation in the area is 174m & lowest is 165m. Climate data from secondary sources The atmospheric temperature in summer rises from March onwards & reaches its maximum in May in the region of 15⁰-40⁰C. The average annual rainfall is approximately 1243mm. In the post monsoon period, the average temperature remains in the range of 19⁰-25⁰C. Flora & Fauna No forests land is involved in the Bagdhara Limestone area. It is entirely a Government land. No endangered species found in the core zone, so no adverse impaction the flora & fauna. Since, there are no end angered spices of flora & fauna observed in core zone as well as buffer zone. The environmental management plan has been developed with a view to bring down the levels of impacts as discussed in the last chapter within limits. In each of the area of impact, measures have to be taken to reduce potentially significant adverse impacts are to be enhanced/augmented so that the overall adverse impacts are reduced to as low level as possible.
The mining in the area has been proposed with time bound management plan so that impacts on different environmental parameters are minimized at every stage of mining. Measures to be taken for each of the impact areas are detailed in the following parameters: Land environment Air environment Water environment Noise environment Reclamation & Rehabilitation of lands Discharge of effluents Forestation & Greenbelt development programme Corporate social responsibilities Risk assessment & Disaster management plan 2.0 ENVIRONMENT IMPACT & MEASURES 2.1 Air environment 2.1.1 Anticipated impacts The mining operations are generally prone to generation of high levels of PM and to a limited extent SO₂, NOₓ due to fossil fuel based vehicles and machines etc. Air pollution due to SO₂, NOₓ and PM may result in irritation and inflammation of eyes and congestion of throat and infection in lungs. However the only fuel consuming used in this mining is the diesel pump and its emission is limited to its usage. 2.1.2 Mitigation measures In addition to the above following measures will be adopted: 1. Water spraying on the roads for suppression of dust 2. Development of greenbelt 3. Water sprinklers will be sprayed at a loading/transfer points 4. PPE will be provided to the workers 5. To control the emissions regular preventative, maintenance of equipment will be carried out.
2.2 Water Environment 2.2.1 Anticipated impacts No impact on the surface water resource is envisaged. The rain water accumulates in the lease area, which will be used for dust suppression and plantation purpose. The ground water table in this region range from 8-10m from the surface level. Due to mining ground water will not interact in this project. 2.2.2 Mitigation measures There is not the case with this lease as mineral or soil does not contain any harmful ingredients that could leach to the water table. Thus the mine lease working shall not affect the ground water quality. The impact of mining on ground water is not anticipated; therefore measures are not required. 2.3 Land Environment 2.3.1 Anticipated impacts In open cast mining, the top crust of earth i.e. top soil/sub soil is completely removed below which are mineral deposits. The earth rock and other strata, called OB(over burden) are completely removed to provide access to the mineral deposit. In this manner land use pattern of an area always changes in the form of voids formed due to excavation of mineral. Topography of the surrounding area will remain unchanged. The drainage pattern due to proposed mining will not be distributed with in core zone as well as buffer zone. The thickness of the soil is 40mm. it shall be scrapped and stacked at separate place and will be used for plantation. 2.3.2 Mitigation measures The excavated area will be partially backed filled and remaining area used for rain water storage till the life of mine. The top soil will be stack at separate earmarked site and used for the plantation.
2.4 Noise Environment 2.4.1 Anticipated impacts As far as noise pollution is concerned, Limestone mining does not contribute much to noise pollution. Proper mitigation measures to reduce noise levels will be followed. Noise level in the working environment is compared with the standards prescribed by Central Pollution Board which will be adopted and enforced by the Govt. Of India through the noise pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000. The exposures to excessive noise levels can lead to: Prevention of step, in somnia & fatigue. Decrease in speech reception, communication, Disturbance and Diminished concentration thus adversely affecting job performance efficiency. Irreparable psychology disturbance including impaired hearing. 2.4.2 Mitigation measures Mitigate the noise level following control measures will be adopted: 1. Periodical monitoring of noise will be done. 2. Regular and proper maintenance of noise generating machinery. 3. Proper PPE inform fear plugs and safety eye wear shall be provided to workers working with the stone crusher and those in immediate vicinity of it. 4. Plantation in lease area will also reduce propagation of noise outside the core zone. 5. Greenbelt shall provide at the lease periphery within the lease area. 2.5 Biological Environment No forests land in the area. It is entirely Govt. Waste land. No end angered species found in the lease area, so no adverse impact on the flora & fauna. Since, there are no end angered species of flora & fauna observed in core zone as well as buffer zone. Therefore, measures are not required.
2.5.1 Greenbelt Development The implementation for the development of greenbelt will be of paramount importance as it will not only add up as an aesthetic feature, but also act as a pollution sink. The species to be grown in the area should be dust tolerant and fast growing species so that permanent greenbelt is created. Apart from the greenbelt and aesthetic plantation efforts shall be decided and executed with the assistance and co-operation of the local community. Trees proposed for greenbelt development Sr.no Scientific name Common name 1 Azadirachta indica Neem 2 Pithecellobium dulce Jungle jalebi 3 Magnifera indicia Aam 4 Syzygium cumini Jamoon 2.6 Socio Economics The impact of mining on social demographic profile is positive because displacements of habitat are not involved in this mining project. The mining in the area will generate rural employment. The running activities in the area will raise economics status of the mine worker. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Environmental management plan serves no purpose if it is not implemented with true spirit. Thus, an implementation and monitoring programme has to be prepared. Implementation of proposed control measures and monitoring programme has an implication on the surrounding area as well as for the Region. Therefore, soil mining management should be strengthen the existing control measures as elaborated earlier in this report and monitor the efficiency of the control measures implemented within the mining area relating to the following specific areas.
Collection of air and water samples at strategic locations with frequency suggested and by analyzing thereof. If the parameters exceed the permissible tolerance limits, corrective regulation measure should be taken. Collection of soil samples at strategic locations once in a year and analysis thereof with regard to deleterious constituents, if any. Regular visual examination will be carried out to look for possibilities of erosion. Any abnormal condition, if observed should be taken care of. Measurement of noise levels at mine site, stationary and mobile sources, and adjacent villages will be done. Plantation will be done as per program i.e. along the boundary and backfilled benches after mining operations have ceased. 3.1 Environmental officer Environmental professional/officer should be appointed/hired to implement the environment management plan. The officer shall ensure the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the environment management programme Environmental officer will be responsible for proper maintenance and operation of the programme and it will oversee the following aspects: Conduct environmental awareness program to the workers, supervisory staff and contract labourers during the mining and operation period. Regularly monitor the environmental parameters and prepare reports as required by the GPCB. Recommend necessary measures to improve environmental conditions. Conduct safety programmes to create safety awareness among workers/staff. Train the staff and other workers on safety measures and conduct safety drills to educate them. Environmental officer will be in regular touch with State Pollution Control Board and State Mining Department and send the manual progress report. Any new regulations considered by State/Central Pollution Control Board for the building stone mining would be taken under active consideration.
3.2 Proposed setup The environmental professional/officer will be responsible for: Liaison with environment monitoring laboratory for collecting and analyzing water and air samples from surrounding are and work zone monitoring for pollutants. Implementing the control and protective measures. Co-ordinating the environment related activities within the project as well as with outside agencies. Collecting statistics of health of workers and populations of surrounding villages. Monitoring the progress of implementation of environmental management program. Greenbelt development along the access road to the mining site. Compliance with the yearly greenbelt development target and post plantation care.