Executive Summary

of the Proposed

‘GRANITE BUILDING STONE QUARRY

of
M/s CHAPRAYIL GRANITES PVT. LTD.’
At Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala State

Project Proponent

M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt. Ltd

(Represented by its Managing Director, Gurudeeksha. L.)
Cheerankavu, Ezhukone P.O,
Kollam – 691505
Prepared by

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANCY AND LABORATORY

A QCI-NABET Accredited Environmental Consulting Organization
Unit No. 206, 224, 225 Jai Commercial Complex, Eastern Express Highway,
Opposite Cadbury Factory, Khopat, Thane (West) – 400 061
Tel: 022 2534 2776, 0484 4301947, Fax: 022 25429650, Email: [email protected], Website: www.ultratech.in

Certificate No.: NABET/EIA/2023/RA 0194_Rev 01; Valid till October 18, 2024

EIA Number: UT/KOCHI/EIA/2023/026 Baseline Monitoring Period: January to March 2023

EIA Execution Period: January to November, 2023
Report Released by: Dr. Deo Narayan Laboratory for baseline monitoring: M/s Standards
In the capacity of: EIA Coordinator Environmental & Analytical Laboratories

NABL Certificate No: TC-12191, valid up to

20.11.2023
Signature
November 2023
 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

1. Introduction
The proposed granite building stone project of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt. Ltd over an extent of 4.9500
hectare (ha) land is be located at Re-Survey No. 173/4-7, 173/4-16, 176/1, 176/1-3, 177/1, 177/1-2, 177/1-3,
177/1-4, 177/1-5, 177/1-6, 177/1-7, 177/3, 177/5, 177/6, 177/6-2, 178/3, 178/3-2, 178/4, 178/5 (Ward 15 &
Block No.39) of Chadayamangalam (Panchayath & Village), Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District of Kerala
State. The proposed mine lease area is non-forest private land mostly covered with rubber plantations and
some local vegetation. The estimated maximum production is around 34,74,000 Tonnes (T) with a life of
mine of 10 years. The Google Earth Imagery of the proposed quarry is given in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Google Earth Imagery of the Proposed Quarry Location

The Letter of Intent (LoI) for the proposed project was obtained from the Director of Mining & Geology,
Thiruvananthapuram vide letter no. DMG/1000/2022/M1 dated 06.01.2023 and Mining Plan was approved
vide letter no. 2539/DOQ/S2/2020 dated 11.05.2023 by the Department of Mining and Geology, Kollam. The
Mining Plan was prepared under rules 55 and 58 of Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rule (KMMCR) 2015
by RQP - Mr. V.K. Roy (registration number DMG/KERALA/RQP/4/2016 valid till 08.09.2026).
As per the Cluster Certificate issued by the Senior Geologist, Department of Mining & Geology, Kollam vide
letter no. 2539/DOQ/S2/2020 dated 22.05.2023, there are no operational quarries within 500 m premises of
the proposed quarry. However, there are two quarries that have applied for quarrying permit within 500 m
radius of the proposed mine lease area as per the cluster certificate. Details of the cluster quarries are given in
Table 1.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 2 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

Table 1: Details of Cluster Quarries

Life Lease
S. Mineable Average Annual
Mine Lease of Area Status
No. Reserves (T) Production (T)
Mine (ha)
1. Proposed Quarry 10 4.9500 34,75,360 3,47,400 Proposed
Quarry of Sri. K. Applied for
2. Lekshmanan and - 0.7249 - - quarrying permit
Company (LOI obtained)
Quarry of M/s. Nat
Environmental
Industries
Clearance (EC)
3. (Represented by 8 1.8109 8,59,165 1,07,396
received. Yet to
Managing Partner,
start operations
Thajudeen H.M)
Total 7.4858
Source – Cluster Certificates and approved mining plans of respective quarries
The total mine lease area in the cluster is 7.4858 ha, which is greater than 5 ha, and therefore cluster condition
is applicable. Hence, the proposed project falls under Category “B1” as per the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) order dated 13.09.2018 and subsequent Office Memorandum (OM) dated 12.12.2018 issued by the
Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Application for Terms of Reference (ToR)
was submitted on 07.06.2023 vide File No: 2288/EC2/2023/SEIAA as per the approved Standard ToR for
conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for non-coal mining projects issued by the
MoEF&CC, April 2015. ToR has been approved by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority
(SEIAA) in their 130th meeting held on 05.08.2023 with the following additional aspects for the EIA Study.
1. Restoration plan for the adjacent mined out area and its implementation possibility and mechanism.
2. Possibility and plan for water harvesting and its demand and utilization for the benefit of the local
public.
3. Vibration studies to evaluate the zone of influence and impact of blasting on the neighbourhood as
suggested in para (e) of OM No. Z-11013/57/2014-IA.II(M) dated 29.10.2014 of MoEF&CC.
However, as there are no mined-out areas in the 500 m radius vicinity of the project, an email request was
sent to SEIAA on 08.09.2023 requesting the revision of the additional aspects for the EIA studies.
Accordingly, a revision in the additional ToR point no 1. has been recommended by State Level Expert
Appraisal Committee (SEAC) in their 151st meeting held on 16 to 18 October 2023 as follows:
1. Restoration plan for the adjacent mined out area, if any, and its implementation possibility and its
mechanism, if applicable
This comprehensive EIA report and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) has been prepared to evaluate
the cumulative impacts from the mining lease area of the proposed quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt. Ltd
and the Quarry of M/s. Nat Industries which accounts to an area of 6.7609 ha. Quarry of Sri. K. Lekshmanan
and Company has received LOI but approved mining plan is not yet obtained from Department of Mining and
Geology. Thus, no further details of this proposed quarry are available.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 3 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

2. Project Benefits

• Availability of aggregates provides a source of raw materials to local industries, thereby contributing to
the socio-economic development of the country.
• Direct employment for 21 people and indirect employment for 16 people, mainly from the local
population. Hence there will be positive impact on the employment opportunities.
3. Project Description
Details of the proposed project is given in Table 2.Table
Table 2: Details of Proposed Project

Particulars Description
Geographic Coordinates Latitude: 8° 50' 38.76" N to 8° 50' 40.15" N
Longitude: 76° 50' 4.80" E to 76° 50' 5.50" E
Mineable Reserves (A) 34,75,360 T
Highest elevation: 125 m AMSL
Lowest elevation: 65 m AMSL
Elevation and slope
Highest slope of proposed site before mining is about 22˚.
Plot is sloping in towards all directions to the project area.
Max. elevation diff. prior to mining (AMSL) 125 m - 65 m = 60 m
Max. elevation diff. after mining (AMSL) 110 m - 55 m = 55 m
Ultimate pit level (AMSL) 55 m AMSL
Groundwater table 50 m AMSL (Open well – 72 m from BP 11)
Drainage direction West to North East
Maximum bench height & Width: 5.00 x 5.00 m
Bench height, width and slope
Slope 45°
Total number of benches 10

3.1 Environment & Social Setting

At 70 m from BP 3 of proposed quarry site the Elambaracode Plantation Forest of Palode Range in the
Thiruvananthapuram Division is located. It consists of mainly Acacia plantations. The nearest forest Junda is
70 m from BP3. Features of the plantations are given below:

• Section: Bharathannoor
• Name: 2013 ACACIA Auriculiformis – Plantation. Elambaracode - BIT: II
• Espacement: 2.5 x 2.5 m
• No of Seedlings Planted: 33,600 Nos
• Extent Area: 23.80 ha
• Effective Area: 21.30 ha
The proposed quarry is at a distance of 50 m from the forest as per Clause 10(F) of Kerala Minor Mineral
Concession Rule 2015. The Google Earth Image showing the distance from BP 3 to Junda of plantation above
is attached as Annexure 6

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 4 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

Table 3: Environmental Setting of the Cluster

Particulars Details
Major water bodies • Kalladathani Stream - 0.28 km, N from BP10
• Ithikara River - 0.97 km, NW from BP8
• Kallada Irrigation Project Canal - 6.95 km, NW from
BP6
Protected areas as per the Wildlife • Elambaracode Plantation Forest - 0.07 km, SSW from
Protection Act (Tiger reserve, Elephant BP2
reserve, Biospheres, National parks, • Ayiravalli RF - 7.08 km, NE from BP11
Wildlife sanctuaries (WLS), community
reserves, and conservation reserves)
Reserved / Protected Forests • Elambaracode Plantation Forest - 0.07 km, SSW from
BP2
• Ayiravalli RF - 7.08 km, NE from BP11
Seismicity The proposed project is located in Seismic Zone III (Moderate
Earthquake Zone) as per the Seismic Zonation map prepared
by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Landslide susceptibility Low-hazard zone is located 5.45 km (ESE) of BP12
Unique or threatened ecosystem None within 10 km radius
Notified groundwater zone by CGWA Safe
Critically environmental polluted area
Coastal areas rich in corals, mangroves,
breeding grounds of specific species None within 10 km radius
Estuaries rich in mangroves, breeding
ground of specific species

The social setting of the project site including the cluster area is given in Table 4.
Table 4: Social Setting of the Cluster

Particulars Details
Nearest House The project site does not have any houses within a 200 m radius. The
nearest houses are the following;
• Fathima Beevi’s house (House No: 18/XV) is located 202 m
from BP 8.
• Navas Kalladathanniyil’s House (House No.: 21/XV) is
located at 202 m from BP 6
Nearest State Highway (SH) • SH 64 (Varkala- Madathara Road) – 2 km S
and National Highway (NH) • SH 1 (Main- Central Road) – 6.3 km NE
• NH 66 (Panvel – Kanyakumari) – 11.6 km SW
Nearest town/City Chadayamangalam – 6.3 km

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 5 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

Particulars Details
Archaeologically important None within 10 km radius
places
Defense Installations
Densely populated area Chadayamangalam – 6.3 km
Nearby Educational Institutions • Poovathoor LP School: 0.79 km E from BP 2
• Sree Shankara Vilasom N.S.S.L.P School: 1.08km NNE from
BP 10
• Vivekananda Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher
Secondary School: 1.53 km NNE from BP 11
Healthcare Institutions Hospitals
• SM Hospital: 2.89 km SW from BP6
• Community Health Center, Pallikkal: 3.38 km SW from BP6
Religious Institutions Temples:
• Kannanpara Temple, 0.21 km NE from BP1
• Poovathoor Sree Krishna Swami Temple, 0.50 km SE from BP2
• Mahaganapathi Temple, 1.02 km NNE from BP11
Churches:
• St. Sebastian's Church 3.93 km NNW from BP8
• CSI Church Kuriyod 4.58 km E from BP12
• St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church 5.32 km ESE from BP 1
Mosques:
• Kalladathanni Masjid 0.40 km WNW from BP8
• KK Konam Juma Masjid 1.04 km W from BP6
• Elavoorkonam Muslim Jama'ath 1.37 km W from BP6
State /National Boundaries Interstate Boundary (Kerala – Tamil Nadu): 6.21 km, E from BP8

3.2 Topsoil and Overburden Management

The average thickness of the topsoil layer is 3.0 m. Topsoil and overburden will be transported via tippers and
stacked separately on the south east side of the proposed quarry in an area of 0.2744 ha (105.1 m from BP2)
and 0.1371 ha (144.4 m from BP2) respectively. The topsoil will be dumped at the top to facilitate
afforestation. The height of the dump will be limited to less than 6.0 m. The overburden will be subsequently
utilized for reclamation of the mined-out area by backfilling. The stacking area will be provided with a rubble
wall to prevent any erosion or contamination. The estimated quantity of topsoil and overburden/intercalated
waste from the lease areas in the cluster is given in Table 5.
Table 5: Quantity of Topsoil and Overburden in the Cluster*

S.
Name of Mine Lease Topsoil Overburden/Intercalated Waste
No
1. 1. Proposed Quarry 1,13,560 T 61,470 T
Quarry of M/s. Nat Industries (Represented by
2. 2. 36,218 T 42,958.25 T
Managing Partner, Thajudeen H.M.)

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 6 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

S.
Name of Mine Lease Topsoil Overburden/Intercalated Waste
No
Total 149,778 T* 104,428.25 T*
* Details of the Quarry of Sri. K. Lekshmanan and Company is not available as their
mining plan is not yet approved by the Department of Mining and Geology
The proposed quarry shall stack the topsoil and overburden/intercalated waste in the designated area to avoid
soil erosion during the rainy season. The stacking area shall be utilized for spreading over reclaimed areas for
plantations. Overburden will be consolidated by excavators and will be used for backfilling the mined-out
area which will be also reutilized as a soil base for the plantation.
3.3 Land Use of the Proposed Mine Lease Area
The existing and the post-mine closure land use pattern are given in Table 6.
Table 6: Details of Land Use: Present & Post Mine Closure Stage

S. No. Land Use As of date (Ha) Post mining period (Ha)

1. Area mined out - 1.0984 (retained as benches)
2. Undisturbed area 3.6790 -
3. Rock Exposed area 0.5686 -
4. Buffer area 0.7024 0.7024
5. Afforestation (Backfilling and reclamation) - 1.7058
6. Rainwater harvesting pit - 1.4434
Total 4.9500 4.9500

Once mining operations are completed, around 1.4434 Ha of the mined area will be utilized as a rainwater
harvesting pit. The top benches shall be afforested with native plant species.
3.4 Resource Requirements
The resource requirement for the proposed granite mining project is given in Table 7.
Table 7: Resource Requirement for the Proposed Project and Cluster

S. No. Particulars Proposed Project Cluster Quarries*

1. Water Detail Quantity Source Detail Quantity Source
requirement Domestic 3 kLD Nearby Domestic 4 kLD Open well
and source open well Dust 10 kLD Tanker
Dust 6 kLD Suppression supply
Suppression Tanker Afforestation 8 kLD
Afforestation 6 kLD supply •Total 22 kLD
Total 15 kLD
•
2. Power KSEB KSEB
source
3. Machinery/ • Excavator – 6 Machinery/ Equipment requirement of
Equipment • Rock breaker – 5 Quarry of M/s. Nat Industries
• Jack Hammer – 5 Excavator – 3

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 7 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

S. No. Particulars Proposed Project Cluster Quarries*

• Tippers/trucks – 10 • Jack Hammer – 2
• Compressor – 4 • Compressor - 2
4. Workforce The workforce requirement is 37 The total workforce requirement is 57
requirement
* Details of the Quarry of Sri. K. Lekshmanan and Company is not available as their
mining plan is not yet approved by the Department of Mining and Geology
3.5 Details on the Granite Leases under Cluster
3.5.1 Method of Mining in the Cluster
The cluster area will use open-cast mining techniques with semi-mechanized and mechanized methods for
granite mining. The maximum bench height will be kept at 5.00 m and the width as 5.00 m at the ultimate
stage by maintaining a 45° slope.
3.5.2 Blasting of Rocks in Cluster
All explosives will be stored in the designated magazine area as per the standards and only skilled personnel
(fireman) will be permitted to enter the mining area during the blasting time. The blasting time of the quarries
in the cluster shall be selected in consensus to minimize the impact. The permission to enter the lease
area/mining area premises shall be restricted and all the workers shall assemble in the designated area which
is at a safe distance from the blasting point during the blasting time.
3.5.3 Conceptual Post-Mining Land Use in the Cluster
After mining, the area will be backfilled and reclaimed by planting native species, and the mined-out area will
be used as stormwater ponds for storing the rainwater.
3.5.4 Management of Waste and Emissions in the Cluster
The summary on waste/emission management in the Cluster of granite mine lease area is given in Table 8.
Table 8: Waste/emission Management in the Cluster

S. No. Particulars Details

1. Wastewater • The wastewater generation will be generated from sanitation facilities and
management will be treated in septic tank followed by soak pit.
• No untreated sewage shall be discharged to the water or land.
2. Solid and • The food waste generated in the operation phase shall be managed by
Hazardous onsite composting.
waste • The hazardous waste from quarrying operations i.e., ‘used oil’ from
management maintenance of equipment and machineries shall be handled as per
Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary
Movement) Amendment Rules, 2022 and handed over to the authorized
dealers.
• Any recyclable waste generated shall be handed over to the recyclers.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 8 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

S. No. Particulars Details

3. Management • To reduce the impact of dust emission, dust suppression method shall be
of air implemented all along the haul roads, access roads by using water tankers
quality, and wet drilling will be practiced.
noise levels • Greenbelt development along with periphery of the mine
and • Vehicles with valid PUC shall only be permitted
vibrations. • The equipment and machineries shall be maintained properly and
measures for reducing the noise levels shall be adopted.

3.6 Proposed Schedule and Project Cost of the Proposed Granite Mining Project
The proposed granite mining project will commence after obtaining EC from SEIAA, Kerala, and other
statutory approvals/NOCs. The estimated cost of the proposed project is INR 4.82 Crore.
4. Description of Environment

• Baseline monitoring was done for environmental and social parameters during the study period (January
to March, 2023) through a reconnaissance survey followed by field visits, stakeholder consultations &
door-to-door household surveys.
• The study area for the EIA included the 10.0 km area around the project site. The study area has been
classified into core and buffer zones. The core zone includes the proposed project site and a 2.0 km radius
of the project site. The buffer zone includes the area outside the core zone and extends up to a 10.0 km
radius from the proposed quarry site.
• Baseline environmental monitoring included the monitoring of ambient air quality, noise levels, surface
& ground water & soil quality. Social baseline monitoring studies included stakeholder consultations
through door-to-door household surveys. The results of environmental baseline monitoring are given in
Table 9.
Table 9: Summary of Environmental Baseline Monitoring

S. No. of
Parameter Inference
No. Locations
All the tested parameters PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 are found within
Ambient Air
1. 8 the prescribed limits of National Ambient Air Quality (NAAQ)
Quality
standards.
The day time and night time noise level recorded at the project site is
found within the permissible limit. The day time noise level at the
sensitive locations is found to be slightly higher than the limits
2. Noise level 8
prescribed by Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
whereas, the night time noise level is found within the prescribed
limit.
As the pH is within 6.0 to 8.5 & Electrical Conductivity less than 2250
3. Surface water 3 µS/cm according to Designated-Best-Use water quality criteria by
CPCB, water can be used for irrigational purposes.
pH ranges from 5.03 to 6.3 which indicate the water is slightly acidic.
4. Groundwater 6
Turbidity of samples from GW1 and GW2 where found a slightly

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 9 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

S. No. of
Parameter Inference
No. Locations
higher than the acceptable limit. All other parameters are within the
acceptable limit by Indian Standard Drinking Water - Specification
IS 10500:2012.
The soil is sandy loam. The electrical conductivity of the soil extract
5. Soil 6 in the study area is in the range of 20 to 22.70 μS/cm. Nutrients values
in terms of Nitrogen, Potassium & Phosphorous were also measured
• Funds have been received for the proposed quarry under the Kalladathani Water Shed Development
Scheme for Preventing Soil Erosion and Save Water and this fund have been utilized for the construction
of stone walls at the site for preventing soil erosion. But since this area was found suitable for granite
mining approvals like LoI, Mining Plan Approval has been obtained from the Mining & Geology
Department.
• Through satellite image analysis for landuse/landcover study, the study area is covered with mixed
vegetation (42.15%) followed by cropland/plantations (27.28%), Built-up area (10.45%), Forest area
(9.62%) and Paddy fields (3.90%)
• The proposed project site falls in the Zone III (moderate seismic intensity) of the Seismic Map of India
(as per IS: 1893, Part I, 2002).
• Study Area experiences wet tropical climate with seasonally excessive rainfall and hot summer. As per
the agroclimatology data collected from National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Prediction of
Worldwide Energy Resource (NASA POWER) for the period January to December 2022 maximum
precipitation is experienced in the months August. March are the hottest months whereas the coolest
month is February. Relative humidity is generally high ranging between 65.88 – 90.38%.
• Maximum temperature experienced was during March (36.4℃) and minimum during February (19.21℃).
• The relative humidity is generally high for the study area. The highest wind speeds were found to occur
during the month of July & August.
• Wind zone is Moderate Damage Risk Zone – B (Vb=39 m/s) as per the Wind & Cyclone Hazard Map
published by the Building Material & Technology Promotion Council (BMPTC), Ministry of Housing &
Urban Affairs (MoH), Government of India (GoI). The wind is predominantly from NE to SW
• Biodiversity assessment report was prepared by Biodiversity Assessment Team of Wildlife Research
Conservation Trust and it is attached as Annexure of Mining Plan. As per the report, no threatened,
endangered & endemic species and migratory fauna were observed at the project site as per International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Pavo cristatus (Indian
Peafowl), Schedule I species as per Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 were found in the
vicinity of project site.

• A preliminary survey of birds, butterflies and odonates was conducted by Warblers and Waders
(a non-governmental organization) at Elambaracode Plantation Forest, Thiruvananthapuram
Forest Division with the support of Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department on 27th and 28th
December 2021. Total of 74 species of birds, 54 species of butterflies and 34 species of odonates
were recorded during the study period. Mammals were extremely rare during the study period;
only wild boar and porcupines were observed.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 10 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

• Socio-economic survey for the proposed project was carried out on 23.08.2023 through stakeholder
consultation and door-to-door survey with structured questionnaires. Total of 50 responses were recorded
during door-to-door survey.
• General information collected during the socio-economic survey are the following;
o Need of improvement in basic amenities
o Type of wildlife animals observed between 500 m – 2.0 km radius
o Environmental sensitive areas and tourist places within 2.0 km radius
o History of natural disasters
• Survey revealed the following;
o Educational institution, street lights, health sector, water supply and road are the basic amenities
that need improvement.
o No wildlife is observed within 500 m – 2.0 km radius of the project site
o Jatayu Rock is located at 6.3 km from the project site.
5. Anticipated Environmental Impact and Mitigation Measures
During the baseline study, several impacts are identified which are critical to various components of the
environment that are likely to occur during the quarrying operations.
5.1 Anticipated Impacts and Mitigation Measures: Pre-operation Phase

• Unnecessary cutting and felling of trees can lead to loss of biodiversity, this impact can be reduced by
restricting the clearance of vegetation to the minimum that is necessary for mining operations.
• Before commencing the quarrying operations, all necessary approvals and permits shall be obtained.
• Environment Management Cell (EMC) shall be constituted to monitor compliance to statutory clearances
and permit conditions obtained and review of the implementation of the Environment Management Plan.
5.2 Identified Impacts & Mitigation Measures for the Operations

• Topsoil shall be properly stacked in a designated area to prevent erosion, contamination and loss of
fertility. It will be used for afforestation during mine closure.
• To reduce land degradation and the impact on local vegetation, 1.4434 ha area will be converted into
rainwater harvesting pit towards the end of life of mine. 1.7058 ha area will be backfilled and reclaimed
with afforestation and trees will be planted according to the progressive mine closure plan.
• 374 no. of trees are proposed to be felled for which it is proposed to plant 2,520 saplings out of which
1,680 inside leasehold area and 840 outside leasehold area as compensatory afforestation measure.
• The impact of dust generated due to mining operations and truck movement can be mitigated by greenbelt
development plan and water sprinkling in the paths of truck movement.
• In order to reduce the impact of the proposed mining activities on Elambaracode Plantation Forest, it is
proposed to construct a noise barrier of 3.0 m height along the 350.00 m length, on the southern side of
the proposed project.
• Noise from mining operations, transportation of granite building stone, operation of processing equipment
and consensus planning of blasting hours with existing operational quarries can reduce the impact of noise
generation.
• Water Pollution from quarrying operations, leakages of chemicals or lubricants from equipment can be
mitigated by ensuring proper storage of oil and fuel, proper management of stormwater using garland
drains and silt settling pond.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 11 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

• The overflow water shall be discharged to natural water course only after adequate filtration and the silt
pond shall be cleaned before the onset of monsoon.
• Sediment retention structures like silt settling pits, gully plugs and overflow channels shall be employed
to minimize the amount of sediment.
• Proper liquid and solid waste management including the provision of a septic tank followed by a soak pit
and source segregation of solid waste and onsite composting of food waste shall be carried out.
• Workers shall be provided with PPE and an adequate number of first aid kits shall be available at the
project site at all times
• Explosives will be stored in approved and licensed magazine as per the Explosive Act/Rules and
competent blasters will be appointed.
• The Traffic Management Plan shall be strictly followed. Vehicle trips to transport minerals shall be
scheduled to allow for smooth traffic flow and avoid inconvenience to school children. No trucks shall be
allowed to move during the night hours.
• Regular monitoring shall be done as per the Environment Monitoring Programme.
Air Quality Modeling
From the air quality modeling results it can be learned that the maximum predicted value of incremental
increase in PM10 due to proposed mining operations would be about 26.71 µg/m3. The maximum baseline
ambient air quality observed during the study period is around 56.1 µg/m3. Therefore, the resultant ambient
air quality due to the proposed mining activities will not higher than the permissible limit for PM10 as per
NAAQ standards, and it can be controlled within the limit if suitable dust suppression measures are adopted
by the proposed project.
Noise Level Modeling
From the noise quality modelling results it if found that the maximum predicted value of incremental increase
in noise is 1.72 Leq considering source strength of 75dB(A). The maximum noise value observed during study
period is 54.48 Leq for day time. Therefore, the resultant value will not exceed the permissible limit as per
CPCB standard during day time.
Stormwater management
There are no perennial water courses/bodies within the lease areas of the cluster. The storm water flows from
the proposed lease area and joins the Kalladathanni stream through minor non-perennial, whereas the storm
water from Nat industries joins the Kalladathanni stream through a natural canal.
6. Analysis of Alternatives (Technology & Sites)
Open cast mechanized method with a bench system and non-electric detonator for blasting for the proposed
granite mining project is the most feasible method and hence no alternative mining technology is proposed.
The entire proposed mine lease area is more or less exposed to Garnateferrous Biotite Gneiss of Khondalite
suite. Therefore, alternative sites cannot be considered for the proposed granite mining project.
7. Environmental Monitoring Program
The Environment Monitoring Programme (EMoP) has been prepared to monitor the environmental quality
during operation phase and shall be carried out through a National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratory. The no. of locations to be monitored for parameters

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 12 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

such as ambient air & noise quality (8 no.s), soil & groundwater (6 no.s), surface water (3 no.s), onsite
meteorology, vibration, traffic, and hydrogeological studies. The cost for EMoP is INR 5.33 Lakhs/year for
the proposed project.
8. Additional Studies
8.1 Public Hearing
Public hearings will be carried out as per EIA Notification 2006. The concerns of the public raised during the
public consultation will be addressed in the Final EIA Report
8.2 Vibration Study
To evaluate the zone of influence & evaluation of impact of blasting on neighbourhood, ground vibration
study has been conducted. Blasting was conducted at 3 locations & analysis of blast vibration data of Peak
Particle Velocity (PPV) for various blasts was recorded. The maximum PPV recorded was 9.2 mm/s at a
distance of 20 m from blasting location. Maximum PPV was found to be less than 15 mm/sec, which is the
safe PPV defined by the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) for Domestic Houses (Brick/Cements).
8.3 Slope Stability Study
Slope stability safeguard measures such as developing plantation with deep rooted tree and shrub species such
as bamboo and providing proper drainage management measures can be adopted to mitigate slope failure.
8.4 Traffic Studies
From the traffic assessment, increase in number of trips due to the operation of proposed quarry is 108
trips/day. The hours of transport operations being 8 hours, proposed increase in PCU is 40 PCU/hour.
Anticipated LOS will be Very Good (A) for Ganapathinada – Elikunnamukal road analyzed considering
anticipated increase by 40 PCU/hour. Hence, it can be concluded that existing road network will not exceed
the traffic volume and will have the capacity to manage the additional traffic from the proposed quarry.
Transportation of material shall be strictly avoided in school timings/ peak hours.
Traffic management measures such as Traffic Mirrors, Signboards, and Traffic Warden have also been
suggested to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow in the access road. The cost of the traffic management plan is
estimated and included in EMP.
8.5 Hydrogeology
Hydro-Albite LLP, Tirur, Malappuram conducted hydrogeological study for the proposed project. Water level
of an open well located at a distance of 72 m from BP 11 (towards northeast direction) were measured, water
levels observed were 50 m AMSL. From the study it was found that the groundwater in the proposed area
appear to be restricted to confined aquifers located at deeper depths within the hard crystalline rocks and the
groundwater is likely to be encountered at depths ranging from 40 m to 50 m below the ground surface. The
ultimate pit level is observed to be 55 m AMSL. Hence, it can be concluded that the mining activities in
proposed quarry will not affect ground water of the area.
8.6 Risk Assessment & Disaster Management Plan
As per the Landslide Susceptibility Map prepared by National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) for
District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) 2015 – Kollam, the proposed project site is not fall under any

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 13 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

hazard zone. Nearest hazard zone is low hazard zone which is 5.45 km, ESE from BP 12. During stakeholder
consultation no prior history of landslide from the area was reported.
9. Environment Management Plan (EMP)
The possible positive and negative impacts due to the mining activities under the cluster are identified and the
mitigation measures for the adverse impacts have been detailed as EMP. An EMC is formed to ensure the
proper implementation of EMP. The budgetary allocation for the environmental management measures in the
operation phase for the proposed granite mining project is given in Table 10.
Table 10: Cost of Environment Protection Measures for the Proposed Granite Mining Project

Recurring
Capital Cost
S. No Environmental Management Measure Cost (In
(In INR)
INR)
Environment Monitoring (Core and Buffer Zone) Air Quality,
1. - 5,33,000
Water Quality, Noise and Ground Vibration
Air Pollution Control - Dust Collector, Water sprinkler, Polythene
2. 5,00,000 50,000
sheet
Water pollution Control- Garland Drains, Water Storage Tank,
3. 6,00,000 75,000
Waste Tank, Check Dams, Silt traps
Green Belt Development including cost of afforestation- Saplings,
4. 7,60,000 3,00,000
Plant Guard including cost of landscaping
Erection of noise barrier along the boundary between project site
5. 73,50,000 3,68,000
and Elambaracode Plantation Forest (350 m length and 3 m height)
Solid Waste Management & Domestic Effluent management-
6. 8,00,000 2,00,000
Dumping Yard retaining wall, Sewage treatment
7. Quarry Approach Road - Construction and maintenance - 5,00,000
Ecology and biodiversity monitoring by an expert team from Kerala
8. - 3,00,000
Forest Research Institute (KFRI) – Once in a year
Fire Fighting Equipment - Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors,
9. 2,00,000 20,000
Fire Suit
Occupational Health and Safety- Helmet, Mask, Hand Gloves,
10. 2,00,000 30,000
Mining Safety Shoes
Reclamation/Rehabilitation of Mined out Area- Saplings, Plant
11. 4,00,000 50,000
Guard including cost of Landscaping
Traffic Management Measures – One traffic warden, one traffic
12. 50,000 2,00,000
convex mirror and training for truck drivers
Total for Environment Management Plan 1,08,60,000 26,26,000

The total capital cost estimated for EMP is INR 108.60 Lakhs. The recurring cost is estimated as INR 26.26
Lakhs/year.
9.1 EMP for Cluster
Integrated EMP has been formulated to monitor and manage the pollution from all the quarries in the cluster
and the budgetary allocation for the same is given in Table 11.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 14 of 15

 Executive Summary of the proposed ‘Granite Building Stone Quarry of M/s. Chaprayil Granites Pvt.
Ltd.’ at Chadayamangalam Village, Kottarakkara Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala

Table 11: Cost of Environment Protection Measures for EMP for cluster

S. No Environmental Management Measure for cluster Recurring Cost/ year (In INR)
1. Monthly meetings of EMC 15,000
2. Appointing an Environmental Engineer for undertaking EMP 3,00,000
3. Grievance Redressal meetings 60,000
4. Environmental Auditing 1,50,000
5. Training programs to implement EMP 30,000
6. Free Medical Camps for the operational workers 1,00,000
7. Maintenance of access roads and storm water management 4,50,000
8. Vehicle and machinery inspection camps 60,000
Total for Environment Management Plan for Cluster 11,65,000

The recurring cost estimated for EMP for the cluster is INR 11.65 Lakhs/year.
9.2 Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER)
The CER activity has been formulated in consultation with Ward Member of Ward 15, Panchayath President
and nearby residents based on need assessment study. The proposed activities are infrastructure development
for educational sector and installation of street light. The budget estimated for the CER activities are INR
27.47 Lakhs as capital cost. It is estimated that the proposed project will be beneficial to two schools and
three Anganwadi.
10. Conclusion
Based on the EIA studies and other surveys conducted for the proposed project, it can be concluded that by
implementing environmental management measures adequately, the potential adverse environmental impacts
can be mitigated to an acceptable level as stated in the EIA report.
11. Recommendations

• It is required to follow all statutory requirements, such as mining plan, environmental clearance, etc.

• Prepare & submit half yearly compliance reports about the progress of implementing the environmental
management plan to SEIAA/MoEF&CC to ensure transparency and accountability of
environmental performance.

Prepared by ULTRA TECH Environmental Consultancy & Laboratory Page 15 of 15