The main hurdle is the ban on transportation of ore on roads passing through villages or human habitation, until the road network’s carrying capacity is increased. Construction of special ‘by-pass’ roads for transportation of minerals has also been proposed.
“Transportation of minerals by road passing through villages shall not be allowed. New ‘bypass’ roads have to be created to transport minerals (leaving a gap of at least 200 metres) so impact of sound, dust and accidents is minimized,” the ministry has said in its office memorandum, asking the government to consider these as conditions of the Environment Clearance (EC) issued.
“No road movement should be allowed on the existing village road network without appropriately increasing the carrying capacity,” MoEF has said directing the mining companies to bear the cost of widening and strengthening of the existing road network. MoEF has lifted the abeyance on the EC in case of 72 leases in the state.
In Goa, iron ore is transported via roads passing through villages, with houses located alongside the roads. The former Congress-led government had proposed mining corridors in the state. However, mining companies had refused to pay the cost of construction, thus keeping the project on hold. The project was later scrapped by the BJP-government.
The state is currently working on a mining transport policy, wherein it proposes to introduce a cluster area development concept to streamline transportation in the mining areas.
The ministry has issued an office memorandum with regards to “impact of mining activities on habitation issues related to mining projects wherein habitation and villages are part of the mining lease area or surrounded by the lease area”. The memorandum has been issued based on the recommendation made by the expert appraisal committee (EAC).
Mining companies have been asked to build adequate number of check dams, retaining walls, drains and settling ponds to arrest wash off with rain water in the catchment area and to ensure that the water table never drops below that of the pre-mining period. In case of water scarcity, the lease holders will be responsible to provide water for the use of the village.
“The floodlights from the mines must face away from the villages and noise levels should be kept well within limits so as to not disturb the biological clock of the villagers,” MoEF said directing companies to carry out vibration studies before undertaking any blasting as part of mining activity to evaluate the zone of influence and impact of blasting on the neighbourhood.
It has to also ensure that mining does not affect the agricultural productivity in the village, and have a crop liability insurance policy to compensate for any crop loss.
MoEF proposes
u Construction of special ‘by-pass’ roads for transportation of minerals
u No movement on existing village road network without increasing the carrying capacity
u Mining companies to bear cost of widening and strengthening of existing road network
u Build check dams, retaining walls, drains and settling ponds to arrest wash off with rain water in catchment area
u Ensure that water table never falls below that of the pre-mining period
u Floodlights from mines to face away from villages
u Noise levels be kept within limits so as to not disturb the biological clock of the villagers
u Carry out vibration studies before undertaking blasting
u Ensure that agricultural productivity is not affected
