Pre-feasibility Report

Submitted as per guidelines issued for preparation of pre-feasibility report for obtaining prior environmental clearance in terms of the provisions of EIA notifications, 2006 as issued vide No.J-11013/41/2006-IA.II(I), Ministry of Environment and Forests, dated 30th December 2010

PRE-FEASIBILITY REPORT

Name of the project: Black Granite Quarry lease of M/s. J.R.Enterprises

1 Name and address of the proponent:

M/s. J.R.Enterprises, Prop.Sri S.Jai Paul,

D.No.1878, 4th Street,Vasanth Colony, Ammanagar, Chennai-600040.

Location of the project(Coordinates of the area

and Topo sheet No)

76°51' 35.46"E, 14° 29' 58.92"N, 57 B/15

3 Category of the project as per the Schedule under EIA notification

Category B2

4A Details of application filed before the concerned granting authority

Mandal; Bramhasamudram

District: Anantapur

State: Andhra Pradesh.

Period of Lease 20 years

4B Grant order details

Quarry Lease for black Granite was

Granted in principle under AP Minor

Mineral Concession Rules, 1966 for 20

years by the Director of Mines and

Geology, Hyderabad vide Notice

No.34090/R4-1/2009 dated: 22-02-

2012. Subject to submission of

approved Mining Plan. A Mining Plan

was submitted, and was approved by

JDMG, Kadapa, vide letter

no.1723/MP-ATP/2012, dated

31.05.2012. The lease was executed by

the ADMG, Anantapuram, vide proce

No: 3853/Q2/BG/2009, Dt.22.11.2014,

subject to submission of EC, CFE and

CFO.

Hence, The Lessee has not commenced

any operations so far.

Survey No: 348

Extent: 6.0 Hectares

Village: Kodipallipalli

w.e.f. 22.11.2014, The lease will be executed

after environmental clearance is issued.

Village: Kodipallipalli

Mandal; Bramhasamudram

District: Anantapur

State: Andhra Pradesh

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

This relates to a mining project to produce Black Granite blocks useful in

making polished granite slabs/ blocks to use in paneling, cladding, flooring,

table tops, kitchen platforms, artifacts, tomb stones etc.., Due to the

introduction of polishing units, black granite blocks produced at the mine

are transported to polishing Industry so as to produce polished slabs for

variety of uses. Usage of polished granite in day today life i.e; in

construction of houses, housing complexes and massive structures of office

buildings is increasing exponentially so as to improve aesthetic beauty of the

living/working environment. Wherever polished granite slabs are used

maintenance becomes minimal. All over the world there are about 300

varieties of colored dimension stone granites, of which about 30 numbers

are the prime varieties. India is one of the forerunners in granite export

market and earns about Rs.8000 crore/ annum as foreign exchange. India

is bestowed with some of the unique prime varieties of dimension stone

granites viz: Black Galaxy, Silver Wave Granite, Srikakulam Blue, Kashmir

White, Paradiso, Ilkal Red, Ananthpur Grey, Sira Grey, Anathapur Chilly

Red, Kuppam Green, Choutapalli Black, Jhansi Red, Sea Weed Green, Vizag

Blue etc.

The Mining operation is confined to just below surface level in which the

sheet rock occurs. The mining is by opencast by semi mechanized methods

using compressor operated jackhammer drills, excavators and dumpers.

The mining will be by linear cut method which involves separation of the

Survey No: 348

Extent: 6.0 ha.

primary block from mother rock. Initially, the primary sheet rock is made to

expose by removing rubble and weathered rock. After detailed study of the

sheet rock; the potential defect free granite areas are demarcated. To

separate the defect free granite blocks primary cutting will be taken up by

line drilling method and working face is developed.

Once the working face is developed, the primary cuts are made keeping

in view the joint and sheet spacing, fabric orientation and homogeneity of

color, texture and structure, with a maximum of 10m length, 3m width

and a height of 6m. Such primary block will be cut into secondary blocks

by jack hammer line drilling and feather & wedge cutting, chemical

expansion agent. Then the demarcated blocks will be dislodged from the

sheet rock by an excavator.

Line drilling method will be used for cutting and separation of the

primary and secondary blocks by involving drilling and occasional mild

blasting. Sometimes, secondary blocks will be separated by using CaOH

based expansion agents in line drill holes to develop a slit connecting the

drill holes.

Thus the block is separated from the mother rock which will be pulled

out from the face with a winch or poclain.

Sub division of large primary blocks into secondary blocks will be done

by drilling close spaced holes (along a line) down to a predetermined

depth and then the secondary block will be removed easily by just pulling

it with the help of poclain. Close spaced holes will be drilled on either

side and by using feathered & wedges the blocks can be separated.

Production of commercial blocks: After the primary separation, the rock

mass will be carefully examined to avoid hair line cracks, mineral

segregations and veins etc. The dressing of the rough blocks will be made

by chipping the edges by chiseling. The rough blocks obtained after the

primary cut will be dressed to make rectangular commercial blocks.

Transportation of the commercial blocks is by heavy duty trucks either to

polishing Industry or to nearby port for export as raw blocks.

This black granite mine will go into production after obtaining the

Environmental Clearance. As per the recent amendments brought to the

EIA notification of 2006, vide amendment, dated 07.10.2014 for mining in

less than 5 ha area also is brought under the net of obtaining E.C.,

especially due to the observation of the National Green Tribunal. In the

above context, the present proposal is made for seeking Environmental

Clearance (EC).

The quarrying activity will be semi mechanized using line drilling, splitting

by feather & wedges or chemical agents mainly but occasional use of mild

explosives with controlled blasting, without affecting the surrounding

environment. In fact the present mining is away from the habitations.

Broadly speaking, in the granite quarry, though a large quantity (≥80%) of

waste is generated, the Environmental Pollution (in water and air) is in

tolerable limits. The dust generated by drilling, vehicular movements will be

suppressed by water sprinkling. The workers employed in the activity are

protected by supplying nose masks and ear muffs to protect them from

adverse effects of air and noise pollution. Since the operations are mostly

confined to ground level or just below ground level and sheet rock areas, the

question of land reclamation arises only when the quarry operations are

completed. After exploitation of the granite deposit up to a depth of

economic viability and also up to the ultimate pit level (UPL), the resultant

pits shall be reclaimed by back filling with waste and there after tree

saplings will be planted.

2. INTRODUCTION OF THE PROJECT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The project under operation is called a mining project which falls under

category B2 under schedule specified under notification issued vide S.O.

1533 MOEF dated 14-9-2006 read with amendments issued under S.O 2601

dated 7-10-2014 of MOEF & Climate change.

The preset quarry project is to produce Black Granite Dimension stone

useful in making polished slabs for cladding, flooring, table tops, and

kitchen platform purposes and also as blocks for making the monuments,

artifacts, tomb stones, etc.

In a granite quarry of the present type, the following steps are adopted.

a) The over burden and other waste materials of the granite quarry are

stacked in North Eastern part of lease area (at between boundary

points D,E,J and K of the lease hold as shown in Plate No: 4), and will

be used subsequently for laying new roads and leveling the low lying

areas and back filling.

b) After examining the sheet rock, defect free blocks are demarcated.

These demarcated blocks are separated by line drilling and splitting

methods. For line drilling 32 mm size closely spaced drill holes are

made vertically. The blocks thus produced are removed with Poclains

or cranes and will be given final dressing for export purposes.

ii) Brief description of nature of the project:

i) Brief note on use of explosives:

Commercial Explosives play an important role in the mining industry to

separate Granite blocks from sheet rock. For this purpose drilling and

blasting play a vital role. Drilling pattern is also important in developing a

working face and also for preparing the rough blocks suitable for

appropriate processing units. Blasting operations will be carried out taking

all precautionary measures. Smooth blasting techniques and special

explosives and silent non explosive demolishing agent like ACCONEX will be

used. The lessee proposes to obtain a license for potable magazine at an

appropriate location (observing safety distances) as per the provisions of

indian explosives act 1884 and rules. The lessee will appoint qualified

blasters for conducting blasting operations.

This project is aimed to produce dimension stone black granite from dolerite

dyke which is exposed on a hilly terrain with a trend of N-S direction. Due

to the attractive black colour, even grain size, absence of cracks & cleavages,

flecks, high polishable nature, the physical/ chemical properties, geo

technical properties, durability, appearance and texture of the mineral

contents, this site has been selected for taking up the mining activity.

iii) Need for the project and its importance to the country and or

region:

In the present day, polished dimensional stone has acquired much

importance as many aesthetically designed structures, monuments etc. are

becoming popular. Of late, the black granite becomes inevitable in building

and monument industries and also common house-hold utilities. Therefore

there is every need to encourage this type of project.

iv) Demand and Supply Gap:

As explained supra there is increasing demand for this stone especially due

to policy decision of the Government to develop many smart cities, and as

the present area is located in close proximity of developing towns like

Guntakal, Dharmavaram, Bellary, Anantapur etc., this project gains

importance. Therefore there is going to be more demand since present

supply is only catering to the needs of existing construction activity.

v) Imports vs. Indigenous production:

There is no scope of import of this type of construction material as there is

enough scope to exploit the vast reserves in our country.

vi) Export Possibility:

There is vast scope to export this material as such material is in great

demand in many countries.

vii) Domestic / export Markets:

As explained earlier, this material has great potential in the domestic and

also export markets. Hence there is bright future.

viii) Employment Generation (Direct and Indirect) due to the project:

This project provides employment to about 22 persons per day directly and

about equal number indirectly.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

i) Type of project including interlinked and interdependent projects, if

any:

This is a project for producing Black Granite blocks of various sizes. After

dressing, such blocks will be sent for export or to local cutting and polishing

units. The proponent is not having any interlinked industry, but this

material is sold to various polishing units. Such establishments are

independent of the Mining units and as such obtain their own environment

and other clearances.

ii) Location (map showing general location, specific location, and

project boundary & project site layout) with coordinates:

The lease area is a situated in southern slope of a small hillock located

at 6.0 Km west of West Kodipalli Village. The area is having good

accessibility to Kalyanadurgam-Rayadurgam State High way. The location

map of the area demarcated on revenue sketch is annexed to the lease grant

order apart from locating the area on Survey of India Toposheet Nos. 57

B/14 & 57B/15.

iii) Details of alternate sites considered and the basis of selecting the

proposed site, particularly the environmental considerations gone into

should be highlighted:

Minerals are site specific unlike other products. Therefore no alternative site

was considered as there is no alternative than mining of the minerals

wherever they occur.

iv) Size or magnitude of operation:

This is a small project spread over an extent of 6.0 ha. The probable annual

production is about 1630 m3 which can give employment opportunities to

about 22 persons directly and another 22 persons indirectly. This project is

a labour intensive industry though the capital out lay of the project is

marginally high.

v) Project description with process details (a schematic diagram/ flow

chart showing the project layout, components of the project etc.

should be given):

Schematic Diagram/Flow Chart:

Parent rock

↓ Separation of Black Granite blocks from parent sheet rock by line drilling

coupled with splitting/splitting of blocks by use of explosives and chemical

agents as a required in line drill holes. ↓

Splitting of the blocks by using feather & wedges. Trimming and face development of the blocks by line drilling.

↓

Final finishing of the blocks by chipping, cutting and chiseling. ↓

Dispatch of the finished bigger blocks to the end users by trucks and

heavy duty trucks and trailers. Smaller blocks are dispatched to the industries which make artifacts and house hold decorative items.

vi) Raw material required along with estimated quantity, likely source,

marketing area of final products, mode of transport of raw material and

finished Product:

No raw material is required for producing black granite blocks.

vii) Resource optimization/ recycling and reuse envisaged in the

project, if any, should be briefly outlined:

The estimated resource of the raw material in the lease hold area of extent

6.0 ha is of the order of about 8,98,100 M3, of which about 106498 M3, of

salable black granite blocks are expected to be recovered. Because it is a

construction material for high end structures and monuments, it cannot be

retrieved and recycled. The waste generated will be used for back filling.

viii) Availability of water, its source, Energy/ power requirement and

source should be given:

At mine site, water is used for:

The quarry requires about 5 KLD of water. This includes water for drilling,

dust suppression and general purposes.

For drinking purpose of the persons working in the quarry potable water is

outsourced. For sprinkling purposes water will be tapped from the nearby

boreholes on contract basis by tankers.

The operations are conducted only during day times. However, for lighting

needs power is drawn from nearby power lines.

The requirement of fuel for running the vehicles and machinery will be

procured from the nearby petrol pumps.

ix) Quantity of wastes to be generated (liquid and solid)and scheme for

their Management/disposal:

The quarrying is on the hillock occupied by boulders and sheet rock which

do not have soil cover. Controlled blasting with mild explosives will be

deployed. The waste produced will be stacked North Eastern part of lease

area and used for back filling.

x) Schematic representations of the feasibility drawing which give

information of EIA purpose:

d) Domestic 1.0 KLD Water for drinking

evaporate.

c) Greenbelt 1.4 KLD Water will

absorbed by the soil.

Total 5.0 KLD

a) Water for

Sprinkling on haul

S.No Purpose Quantity Remarks on

Waste Water

1.6 KLD All water will

be absorbed by the ground

b) Water for Drilling 1.0 KLD Water will

roads

This is a small mining project with an extent of 6.0 ha and does not have

any major Environmental Impact. However, the minor environmental

impacts such as air pollution by dust emissions and noise pollution by

mining activity are contained by water sprinkling on the quarry roads and

by providing ear plugs & nose masks to the persons working in the mine.

Topo map of the mining project with 5 Km radius from the project site is

enclosed. As residential areas are far away, there is no impact on the human

habitation, water bodies and nearby forest due to this mining activity. The

dust emissions due to blasting are minimal and settle in a short time. The

dust in the muck pile will be suppressed by sprinkling water. No liquid

effluents will be generated during mining activity. The Bhairivani Tippa

reservoir is located at about 4.00 Km on the west of the site. West Kodipalli

Cheruvu is about at 6 Km East of the site, Obulapura cheruvu is at 7.0Kms

on the SE. Vedavathi River flows at a distance of 4.0 Kms on north side of

the quarry. As no pollutants are produced, there is no possibility of dumping

the pollutants in neighboring nallas and tanks.

4. SITE ANALYSIS:

i) Connectivity:

The site has good connectivity as the road connecting Kalyandurgam with

Rayadurgam is at about 20.0 Km is towards East. The Jalimaddi to West

Kodipalli road is 5.0 Km from the quarry site. A metal road connects the

quarry site. The nearest rail head Rayadurgam of South Central Railway is

at 50 Km. distance.

ii) Land Form, Land Use and Land Ownership:

The land forms observed on the lease area are elephant back, sheetrock and

stray boulder. All around the hill the country is with undulatory topography

covered with brownish soils of low fertility nature. In the plain lands,

groundnut and pulses are grown. The quarry land belongs to the Govt. of

Andhra Pradesh.

iii) Topography (along with map):

The elevation difference between the ground level to highest point of the

lease area is 20 m. The MSL of the base point of the quarry area is 520m.

There are minor drainages which depict dendritic to sub-dendritic pattern in

the area. A few seasonal tanks are built across the drainages.

The location of the lease area is marked on Survey of India Topo sheet

57B/14 and 57 B/15, which depicts the altitudes and other Topographic

features within 5 Km radius of the site.

iv)Existing land use pattern (agriculture, non-agriculture, forest, water

bodies(including area under CRZ)), shortest distances from the

periphery of the project to periphery of the forests, national park, wild

life sanctuary, eco sensitive areas, water bodies ( distance from the

HFL of the river), CRZ. In case of notified industrial area, a copy of the

Gazette notification should be given:

Except for the hill tracks, all around the hill the country is with undulatory

topography covered with brownish soils of low fertility nature. In the plain

lands, groundnut and pulses are grown. The lease area is a situated in

southern slope of a small hillock located at 6.0 Km west of West

Kodipalli Village and Obulapura cheruvu is at 7.0Kms on the SE. Vedavathi

river flows at distance of 4.0 Kms on the north side of the site. There are no

National parks, wild life sanctuaries and eco-sensitive areas nearby. There

are no notified Industrial areas in nearby.

v)Existing Infrastructure:

Since it is small mine no permanent structures are built. However need

based temporary structures are constructed for providing basic amenities to

the workers.

vi)Soil classification:

There is no soil in the quarry area as it is a rocky exposure all over.

vii) Climatic data from secondary sources:

The area falls in semi-arid region and experiences maximum temperature of

41°C in summer during April & May, while minimum temperature of 18°C in

winter during December & January. The average rain fall is of the order of

580 mm/year. The area experiences maximum rain fall due to SW monsoon

during June–September. It also receives rain fall due to NE monsoon during

November and December.

viii)Social Infrastructure available:

The surrounding villages are well developed and are well connected to the

major towns like Guntakal, Dharmavaram, Bellary, Anantapur etc., and

towns by well-maintained black topped wide roads. The towns which are

nearby are equipped with good educational, hospital and communication

facilities.

5. PLANNING BRIEF:

i) Planning Concept (type of industries, facilities, transportation etc)

Town and county Planning/Development authority Classification:

This quarry operation will commence after obtaining all environmental

clearances. Medical, educational and transport facilities are well developed

in nearby Cities and Towns and they can be made use of by the working

personnel in the mine.

ii) Population Projection:

The population of the villages falling within 5 Km radius as indicated below:

S.No Village Population

1 Pobbarlapalli 740

2 Katamdevarakota 690

3 Jalimaddi 710

(source:Censes 2011)

iii) Land use planning (breakup along with green belt etc):

This is a small quarry located on a hillock and hence green belt will be

developed on the buffer zone of the lease and after the operation is

completed, the entire lease area will be developed with plantations. The

reclamation of the quarry pit will be by back filling.

iv) Assessment of Infrastructure Demand (Physical & Social):

There are well developed infrastructural facilities in the nearby towns of the

lease hold. Hence, there is no need to go for any such projects within the

lease area or in nearby area.

v) Amenities/Facilities:

Since the area is in close proximity with the developed towns, the

educational, medical and communication facilities available there can be

made use of. An office room, rest shelter, first aid station and toilets with

septic tanks will be provided by the proponent.

6. PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE:

i) Industrial Area (Processing Area):

There are no demarcated specified industrial zones in the area. However a

few of Cutting & Polishing units were established within reasonable

distances.

ii) Residential Area (Non Processing Area):

No residential constructions are proposed in the area since there are good

number of villages. Which can be made use for staying by the quarry

workers.

iii) Green Belt:

During the life of the mine, Greenery will be developed all along the haul

roads and in the 7.5 M wide buffer zone and the remaining non-productive

areas of the lease hold as a measure to ameliorate the environment. After

the closure of the quarry development of green belt is proposed after

reclamation.

iv) Social Infrastructure:

The area is well developed with its own natural social infrastructure.

v) Connectivity (Traffic and Transportation Road/ Rail/Metro/Water

ways etc):

The site has good connectivity as the road connecting Kalyandurgam with

Rayadurgam is at about 20.0 Km is towards East. The Jalimaddi to West

Kodipalli road is 5.0 Km from the quarry site. A metal road connects the

quarry site. The nearest rail head Rayadurgam of South Central Railway is

at 50 Km. distance.

vi) Drinking Water Management (Source & Supply of water):

All the nearby villages are having potable water source from the local bodies

and hence there is no problem for potable water supply.

vii) Sewerage System:

The project as such is devoid of human habitation and hence no need to

have the linkage with sewerage system.

viii) Industrial Waste Management:

No industrial waste is produced. However, the mining waste which is

innocuous will be stored neatly in benches and re used for back filling at the

end of mining operations.

ix)Solid Waste Management:

No solid waste is produced. However, the mining waste which is innocuous

will be stored neatly in benches and re used for back filling at the end of

mining operations.

x) Power Requirement & Supply / source:

No power requirement, since the operations are confined to day time only.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the light of the above explanations, in order to meet the requirements of

Black Granite Dimension stone in construction activity, as decorative stone,