PRE-FEASIBILITY REPORT (As per Ministry of Environment and Forests Letter dated: 30-12-2010)

1. Executive Summary

Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited (RSMML) engaged in

production of lignite from our existing Sonari Lignite Mines

(rated capacity of 1 MTPA) situated near village Sonari, Tehsil &

District Barmer, State Rajasthan.

This lignite block was allocated by Ministry of Coal ,Govt. of

India, New Delhi vide letter no. 48024/1/98-Lig. Dated

06.09.2004.

As per provisions of EIA notification 14 Sept, 2006 and

subsequent amendments, earlier EC was granted vide letter dated

17.07.2007 under section 12 of EIA Notification, 2006 and

subsequent amendments thereto and under para 2.1.1 of MoEF

Circular dated 13.10.2006 & In response to our application of

Consent to Operate, dated 30.01.2018, RSPCB vide its letter dated

31.05.2018 has informed us that our application has been kept

pending in view of the MoEF & CC Notification dated

06.04.2018. Further, pending clarification from MoEF & CC/

RSPCB with regards to validity of the existing EC and

applicability & provisions of MoEF & CC Notification dated

06.04.2018, project proponent is filing Form I & Pre- feasibility

Report for determination of ToR for Environmental studies.

Lease area is falls on Survey of India, toposheet No.- 40N/8, 40

O/5 & Mining area is located between Latitudes N 25° 57' 09” to

E 26° 00' 29” Longitudes N 71° 15' 42” to E 71° 17'14”. (Ref. Plate

2- Key Plan).

Sonari Block is approachable by tar road (about 6 km) from vishala

Village. Vishala is approachable from NH 15 (Harsani Phata) 15

kms and Harsani phata to Barmer town about 9 kms by National

Highway no. 15 joining Kandla port (in South) and Shri-

Ganganagar (in North). Barmer is the nearest Railway station; a

broad gauge track of Northern-Western Railway, Jodhpur is the

nearest Airport 200 km due east of Barmer town. Barmer town is

located at about 30 km from mines site.

Barmer is nearest railway station 30 kms./ Jodhpur is the nearest

Airport 200 km. Key Plan of the Sonari Lignite Mines is enclosed

(Plate-2)

The mining area spreads in an area of 1512.50 ha. , No forest land

is in ML area. Lease area of the mine is 1512.50 ha. About 1203.06

ha of land belongs to private khatedars includes un-irrigated

agriculture land , Govt. waste land is 226.41 ha, Govt. grazing land

73.87 ha & others land like village area etc 9.16 ha.(Aabadi land)

The Mining plan has been prepared with a entire mine life for a

peak rated capacity of 1.0 MTPA and same was approved by MoC

on dated 16 Jan. 2006.

In course of mining 60.00 Mm3 of overburden (including 0.74

Mm3 of top soil, 0.4 Mm3 as per plan) was generated up to first 5

years & 589.5 Mm3 generated in entire mine life, Out of this

20.40 Mm3 (including 0.74 Mm3 of top soil) has stacked in

external dump and balance 569.10 Mm3 is to be used to backfill

the de-coaled area.

At the end of mining operation land degraded on account of

mining & overburden dumping, will be reclaimed. This includes

800 ha for mining and 90 ha. External dump & 775 ha of internal

dump. Plantation would be raised over reclaimed area (775 ha.).

Total water requirement for mine site has been assessed as 198 m3

/day. This includes 150 m3/day for potable purposes & 48 m3/day

for industrial purposes. Presently the water is supplied to the mine

from Giral overhead tank of RSMM, which receives water

supplies from Nimla located at 7 km from the mine, where RSMM

has tube well to tap groundwater with permission from PHED. In

future the water requirement will be met from water reservoir of

Giral thermal power plant located at a distance of 9 km through

pipe line. The water supply to Giral TPP comes from IGNP.

Run of mine directly loaded into trucks and transported to linked

to Thermal power Plant of M/s RVUNL- Unit –2 capacity 125

MW at village Giral.

2. Introduction of the project Background information

i. Identification of project

and project proponent. In

case of mining project, a

copy of mining lease/letter

of intent should be given.

This lignite block was allocated by Ministry of Coal ,Govt. of

India, New Delhi vide letter no. 48024/1/98-Lig. Dated

06.09.2004.Annexure –I.

Name of the project: Sonari Lignite Mines Village: Sonari, Tehsil

& District: Barmer, Rajasthan.

Project Proponent: Rajasthan State Mines & Mineral Limited (A

Government of Rajasthan Enterprise).

Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited (RSMML) is one of the

premier public sector enterprises of the Government of Rajasthan,

primarily engaged in mining and marketing of industrial minerals

in the State.

Address: Registered office : Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited

C-89-90, Janpath, Lal Kothi Scheme,

Jaipur-302015 Rajasthan. Email: rsmmrojaipur@yahoo.com

SBU & PC –Lignite Office : Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Limited

KHANIJ BHAWAN, TILAK MARG

‘C’ SCHEME, JAIPUR- 302005

RSMML presently operates three Lignite Mines, namely:

1. Giral Lignite Mine , Distt. Barmer , 1.0 MTPA , linked to

Thermal power Plant of M/s RVUNL- Unit-1, capacity 125

MW at village Giral.

2. Kasnau-Matasukh Lignite Mine, Distt. Nagaur, 1.0 MTPA,

linked to mercantile usage by industries.

ii. Brief description of

nature of the project.

Lignite is the only solid fossil fuel available in the State and it is

prudent to utilize this potential to the best advantage. After

analyzing various factors like lignite availability, transport

facilities, cost and quality parameters revealed that lignite based

power generation offers the most economical option for meeting

the power demand in Rajasthan. Lignite is brownish-black in

color and has a carbon content of around 23-29%, a high inherent

moisture content sometimes as high as 38.7%, and an ash content

ranging from 15% to 18%. Lignite, often referred to as brown

coal, is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it

somewhere. Lignite has a high content of volatile matter which

makes it easier to convert into gas and liquid petroleum products

than higher ranking coals. Lignite can be separated into two types.

The first is lignite or fossil wood and the second form is the

compact lignite or perfect lignite. The lignite is multi-seam

deposit and split into 6 to 8 sub seams.

Exploration :

Sonari Lignite block is explored by DMG/MECL respectively as

under:

Details of drilling carried out by above agencies are as under :

Block Period of

Expln.

BH’s Meterage

(m)

Exploration

agencies

Sonari 1992 47

5813.30 MECL

Sonari 2004 12 1717.30 MECL

Total 59 7530.60

Block Period of Expln. Agency

Sonari Commenced on dated

24th December 1992

Mineral

Exploration

Corporation

Limited

Exploration report of above blocks was obtained from NLC.

No. of boreholes drilled within the mining lease area are 59 with

overall borehole density of 3.9/Sq.km. Grid pattern in is 400 m x

400 m & 200m x 200 m in part.

Details of overburden, inter-burden, cumulative thickness of O.B.

(overburden + inter-burden) and thickness of lignite seam are as under :

Thickness of Overburden

Thickness of inter-burden

Thickness of Lignite Seam

Cumulative Thickness of Lignite Seam

Thickness of OB & IB

Thickness (in meter)

Minimum 12

Maximum 172

Average 92

Thickness (in meter)

Minimum 0

Maximum 55.45

Average 28

Thickness (in meter)

Minimum 0.05

Maximum 1.80

Average 0.92

Thickness (in meter)

Minimum 0.8

Maximum 12.8

Average 6.8

Thickness (in meter)

Minimum 13.40

Maximum 212.00

Average 112.5

Quality:

The quality of lignite based on analysis of core samples obtained

during the exploratory drilling, the average quality of Lignite

available in this deposit are given below:

Moisture % - 38.7%

Ash % - 15.47%

V.M.% - 22.8%

Fixed Carbon % - 23.9%

Sulphur % - 4%

C.V. Kcal/Kg. - 2800 to 3200

Geological reserves & Life of Project :

Geological reserves of Sonari lignite mines within the lease area

are 42.56 million tonne, out of which 29.52 million tone (upto 150

m depth) are mineable.

The mine is designed for production 1.0 million tonnes of lignite

per annum as per the end uses of the lignite mineral.

Accordingly life of mine has been worked out:-

1. Overburden excavation over the life: 589.5 million M3

2. Total extractable lignite reserves: 29.52 million tonnes

3. Initial production for the first five years: 1.93 million tonnes

4. Balance reserves after initial 5 years: 27.59 million tonnes

5. Rated mine capacity: 1.0 MT per annum.

6. Total life of the mine: 31 years.

7. The estimated capital cost of the project is Rs. 212.70 crore only.

iii. Need for the project

and its importance to

the country and or

region

iv. Demand-Supply Gap

The Rajasthan state is deficient in power generation. A large gap

exists between state level generation of power & its demand. The

state has hardly any known hydro-power potential that can be

tapped. Capacity addition from nuclear sources is bound to be

slow due to high cost and long gestation period. Under the

situation, conventional thermal power plants provide perhaps the

best option for bridging the gap. Coal based Thermal Power

Plants are less acceptable due to non-availability of coal reserves

in Rajasthan state and coal transport over long distance to

Rajasthan being difficult and costly, whereas exploitation of

available lignite deposits in Rajasthan is expected to be more

suitable.

Due to sulphur content (4%), the lignite produced from this mine

utilized by thermal power plant & industries for mercantile usage.

The lignite produced from this mine offers good sources of

employment & source of income generation for local people. This

project contributes socio-economic development of the region &

nation. The project will also contribute to economy by way of

royalty, sales tax and additional levy.

Power is the most used energy form in India. Indeed, it is the

fulcrum on which rests the future pace of growth and

development. As the tempo of development increases, the demand

for electricity also increases. Rajasthan, being a power deficit

State, can contribute to a large extent to nation in achieving self

sufficiency in power by developing new lignite mine and its

linkage to Thermal Power Plant & mercantile usage by industries.

This will reduce the gap between demand & supply of lignite to a

greater extent.

Lignite is the only solid fossil fuel available in the State and it will

be prudent to utilize this potential to the best advantage.

3. Project Description

i. Type of project

including interlinked

and interdependent

projects, if any.

The existing mine is extract lignite at the rated capacity of 1.0

MTPA. The total project area is 1512.50 ha. The mineable/

extractable reserve is 29.52 million tonnes. The lignite produced

from this mine consumed by thermal power plant & industries

for mercantile usage.

ii.Location (map showing

general location,

specific location, and

project boundary &

project site layout)

with coordinates.

Name of the project: Sonari Lignite Mines

Vill: Sonari

Tehsil : Barmer

District: Barmer

State: Rajasthan

Location map and Key plan showing lignite block area

is enclosed as Plate -1 & Plate -2.

Mining lease area is located between Latitudes N 25° 57' 09” to

E 26° 00' 29” Longitudes N 71° 15' 42” to E 71° 17'14”.

Lease area of the mine is falls on Survey of India, toposheet

40N/8, 40 O/5.

v. Imports vs. Indigenous

production

vi. Export Possibility

vii.Domestic/export

Markets

In order to avoid import of coal for thermal power station &

mercantile usage by industries, the existing mine is to bridge the

gap between demand & supply.

No export of Lignite is envisaged from this mine. The lignite

produced from this mine has consumed by thermal power plant &

industries for mercantile usage. So, there is no possibility of export

of lignite produced from the mine.

There is no any export from the mine as the entire lignite

consumed in thermal power plant & industries for mercantile

usage.

iii. Details of alternate

sites considered and

the basis of selecting

the proposed site,

particularly the

environmental

considerations gone

into should be

highlighted.

Mining activities has been carried out based on local geology and

availability of the mineral.

Mining is carried out by mechanized open cast mining method

using conventional mining equipments such as hydraulic

excavators / shovel in combination with matching capacity

dumpers along with ancillary equipments such as dozers, road

grader etc.

Blasting is not required, as the OB strata are soft in nature.

iv. Size or magnitude of

operation.

The total production in the first five years 1.93 million tonnes. The

targeted production is 1.0 Million tonne per annum. The lignite

extracted for the five years has been 1.93 million tonnes and

overburden removed including top soil has been 20.40 million

M3.

v. Project description

with process details

(a schematic diagram,

flow chart showing

the project layout,

components of the

project etc. should be

given)

Sonari Lignite Mines spreads in an area of 1512.50 ha. Area is

mostly barren, with a flat terrain and is covered with sandy and

rocky fragments with negligible soil cover and minor undulations.

Higher elevations are observed in the south-eastern, central and

north-western parts of the area separated by low lying flat area. The

altitude in the area ranges from 197 to 205 m. Sand dunes of low

relief are observed on the eastern side of lease area.

The average elevation of the area varies from 197 m to 205 m

above MSL.

Sequence of mining :

There is first open up the mine by constructing an Initial Mining

Cut (IMC) near South-West of ML boundary. The lignite seam

touched at a depth of 44 m from the surface.

Method of mining:

Mining is carried out by mechanized open cast mining method

using conventional mining equipments such as hydraulic

excavators / shovel in combination with matching capacity

dumpers along with ancillary equipments such as dozers, road

grader etc. Since the over burden strata is soft in nature, hence it

does not require any blasting and can be easily excavated by

hydraulic excavators. The open cast working was carried out by

forming suitable size benches of 3 m in height and final width

around 6 m during the working of the pit. However, the

progressive bench width of 9 m. But the ultimate dimension of the

benches kept as 3 m in height, 6 m width, with 700 bench face

slope & over all pit slope angle of 220 56’ say 230).

The proposed production of lignite and generation of

overburden for Sonari mines is as under:

Year Lignite in lakh

tonnes

OB in lakh m3 Stripping

ratio

Phase – I

1 year 0.0 50 -

2 year 5.0 100 1:20

3 year 10.0 150 1:15

4 year 10.0 150 1:15

5 year 10.0 150 1:15

Sub total 35.00 600 17.14

6-10 year 50.0 900 1:18

11-15 year 50.0 900 1:18

Total 135.0 2400.0 17.78

Phase –II

16-20 year 50.0 1100 1:22

21-25 year 50.0 1100 1:22

26-31 year 60.20 1295 1:21.57

Grand total 295.20 5895.0 1:19.97

vi. Raw material required

along with estimated

quantity, likely source,

marketing area of final

products, Mode of

transport of raw Material

and Finished Product.

vii. Resource optimization

/ recycling and reuse

envisaged in the project,

if any, should be briefly

outlined.

The mining is carried out by mechanized open cast mining method

by using conventional mining machinery (HEMM) using a

combination of hydraulic shovels (excavator) and dumper

combination in association with ancillary equipments like dozer,

motor grader, water sprinkler, fuel browser etc.

Marketing area of final product:

Total quantity of production has been supplied to thermal power

plant & consuming industries.

Mode of Transportation of Finished Product (Lignite):

The lignite produced from the mine has been directly loaded into

dumper & trucks for transportation to thermal power plant

consuming industries respectively.

Lignite being soft in nature can be easily excavated with the help

of hydraulic excavator without using blasting technique.

The total OB/ waste (alluvium/ soil) generated, used in

backfilling in the worked out area simultaneously. During the

first three years of mining OB is dumped outside. However from

3th year onward, the overburden so generated was backfilled in

the void created in the mining pit.

No processing / beneficiation of the mineral “Lignite” are

envisaged. The resources which are used in the mining are

recycled by various methods. Spent oil from transformers, once

in one or two years will be sold to the authorized vendors.

viii. Availability of water

its source,

Energy/power

requirement and

source should be

given.

Water :

The drinking water as well industrial consumption is sourced from

Public Health Engineering Department of Rajasthan State.

The total requirement of water and sewage generation would be

as under:

Sl.

No.

Use Water requirement

m3 / day

1. Labour at mine site 18

2. Population in project colony 150

3. Dust suppression & green

belt development

30

Total 198

Power:

There is 11 KV overhead transmission line from nearby grid

substation of Rajasthan Vidhyut Vitran Nigam, to the mines

substation is located near mines. 85 KW power used per day.

ix. Quantity of wastes to

be generated (liquid

and solid) and

scheme for their

Management/

disposal.

Solid Wastes:

Overburden management :

Overburden strata mainly consist of Sand, kankar and clay. The

overburden excavation over the life to be 589.5 Million M.3

The waste generated from the mining operations during the first

three year plan period is proposed to stack partially as out side

dump and partially in decoaled area. Outside dump is within lease

on non lignite bearing area. The total land degradation due to out

side dump is 90.00 hectare.

x.Schematic

representations of the

feasibility drawing

which give information

of EIA purpose.

Topsoil Management

The topsoil thickness in the lease hold area is approximately less

than half meter. The topsoil stacking is proposed on barren land

to be stacked separately.

Total 7.4 lac m3 of top soil was generated up to first 5 year of

mine operation. The same spread on backfilled area of 9.6 ha. The

top soil stockpiles have growth of grasses to preserve the soil

fertility. The grass will serve as an excellent binder and would

control soil erosion from the top soil stack pile, till it is reused as

a cover material at overburden disposal sites. These include its

use for growing plants along the fringes of the site, roads and

reclamation of backfilled and external dump areas.

No liquid effluents generated due to the proposed mining activity.

As per Terms of Reference (TOR), all the conditions mentioned

will be fulfilled and incorporated in the EIA report.

4. Site Analysis

i. Connectivity. Sonari Block is approachable by tar road (about 6 km) from

vishala Village Vishala is approachable from NH 15 (Harsani

Phata) 15 kms and Harsani phata to Barmer town about 9 kms by

National Highway no. 15 joining Kandla port (in South) and Shri-

Ganganagar (in North). Barmer is the nearest Railway station; a

broad gauge track of Northern-Western Railway, Jodhpur is the

nearest Airport 200 km due east of Barmer town. Barmer town is

located at about 30 km from mines site.

The nearest railway station Barmer, is about 30 Km from the

mines.

Jodhpur is the nearest Airport 200 km from Barmer town.

ii. Land Form, Land use

and Land ownership.

PRE-MINING LAND USE:

Sl.

No.

Description Area (ha.)

1 Excavation Area 93.50

2 Top soil dump 9.6

3 OB Dump area* 90.00

4 Contractor Camp & Diesel

Pump Station

2.08

5 Mines Office 0.42

Sub Total (1-5) 195.60

6 Undisturbed area 1316.90

Total 1512.5

The Proposed land use at mine closure stage will be as follows:

Sl.

No.

Particulars of area to be

used for various purposes

Area

(Ha.)

1. Excavation 800.0

2. Storage of top soil 9.60

3. OB Dump 90.00

4. Infrastructure 1.5

5. Green belt 60.0

6. Undisturbed area 551.40

Total 1512.5

No forest land is in ML area. Lease area of the mine is 1512.50 ha.

About 1203.06 ha of land belongs to private khatedars includes un-

irrigated agriculture land , Govt. waste land is 226.41 ha, Govt.

grazing land 73.87 ha & others land like village area etc 9.16

ha.(Aabadi land).

iii. Topography (along

with map).

Area is mostly barren, with a flat terrain and is covered with sandy

and rocky fragments with negligible soil cover and minor

undulations. Higher elevations are observed in the south-eastern,

central and north-western parts of the area separated by low lying

flat area. The altitude in the area ranges from 197 to 205 m. Sand

dunes of low relief are observed on the eastern side of lease area.

The altitude of the M.L. area ranges from 300 to 305 m.

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

sanctuary, eco from the

HFL industrial area, be

given.

v. Existing Infrastructure

vi. Soil classification

Type of the land in the area is partly agriculture. Most of the area

is found with partial vegetation. After monsoon most of the area is

used for grazing and cultivation. The entire area falls under the

category of non-forest land.

There is no National Park, wildlife Sanctuary, notified Eco-

Sensitive Area within 15 Km of periphery of project area.

The type of land of core zone is tabulated below:

Sl. No. Details of land use Area in Ha.

1. Agriculture land 1203.06

2. Waste land 226.41

3. Grazing land 73.87

4. Others including village

area

9.16

Total 1512.5

There is no infrastructure in the mining lease area.

Project is covered in the alluvium soil with sand.

vii. Climatic data from

secondary sources. The climatological parameters of Barmer station reveals that the

general average day temperature varies from 10.10c to 24.70c.

However the highest temperature goes as high as 490c, whereas

lowest temperature in the winter goes down to 10.10c. Relative

humidity ranges from 24% to 27%.

The lignite deposit of Sonari is in the famous Thar desert,

Characterized by desert climate.

Rainfall

The annual rainfall is poor, the major portion of which is received

during monsoon months (July-August). Annual average rainfall

recorded is around 259.6 mm by the district Meteorological

Department, Barmer.

Humidity

The relative humidity in this area is 24-27%, except in monsoon

season.

Wind

The winds are generally moderate except from moderate to

strong during the period from May to August. The evaporation

is generally very high during summer and low in winter.

Vegetation

The area falls in the “Great Indian Thar Desert” and described

locally as “ Marusthal” due to scarcity of rainfall. The trees like

Khejri, Babul, Ker, Jal, Rohira, Phog, Bui, Ber, Akada, etc. are

found in the area. The Shrubs, bushes and herbs found in the area

are of typical xerophytes flora. Wild animal like Deer, Rabbits,

Neelgay & birds like Peacock, Peahen can also be spotted in this

area. The crop cultivated during normal monsoon are mainly

Bazara, Mung, Moth, Ganwar etc. Neither sufficient ground water

nor surface water is available hence; the area has a single crop

cultivation culture. (Rain fed).

viii. Social Infrastructure

available. Sonari lignite Mines is located in Tehsil & District- Barmer at a

distance of 30 km in South direction.

All the social infrastructural facilities like hospitals, Dispensaries,

schools, colleges, financial institutions (Banks) with ATM & etc.

are available nearby Barmer town.

5. Planning Brief

i. Planning Concept

(type of industries,

transportation etc)

Town and Planning/

Development

authority

Classification.

Mining :

The gross geological reserve from the mine is estimated as

42.56 million tonne and 29.52 million tonne mineable reserve

& Ore and OB ratio is 1:19.97.

The area does not fall under any industrial estate / industrial park

/ Special Economic Zone and in the jurisdiction of town planning

/ Development authority.

Transportation:

The lignite produce from the mine is being directly loaded into

dumpers & trucks and transported to thermal power plant &

various industries respectively by road only.

ii. Population Projection

iii. Land use planning

(breakup along with green

belt etc).

There influx of people during construction and operation stage.

About 1550 persons directly/indirectly are required for the mine

project. All the people will be sourced from neighboring villages.

LAND USE DURING MINING (AT THE END OF 5TH YEAR AND END OF MINING

OPERATION 31TH YEAR)

Sl.

No.

Description During Mining

5th Year Conceptual

(31th Year)

1. Mining /Excavation (void only) 93.5 775.00

2. External OB dumps 90.00 90.00

3. Top Soil Dump 9.60 9.60

4. Plantation/Green

belt development

4.0 60.00

5. Infrastructure :Built-up area 2.5 1.5

6. Roads 1.5 1.5

7. Water bodies : Pond 0 25.00

8. Undisturbed 1311.4 549.9 Total 1512.50 1512.50

A total mining lease area is 1512.50 ha. The entire area falls under the category of non-

forest land.

iv. Assessment of

Infrastructure

Demand (Physical &

Social).

RSMM Ltd, a Govt. of Rajasthan Enterprise operate this mine

and create infrastructure facilities. These included provisions for

roads and culverts; buildings required for non- residential; supply

of water for domestic and industrial use including water required

for dust suppression, power supply and telecommunication

system; first aid and emergency services etc.

v. Amenities / Facilities. A rest shelter with first aid kit, canteen, drinking water

arrangements, rest shelter, urinals etc facilities are provided

within ML area.

First-aid boxes is provided and maintained with specified

medicines. These are readily accessible during all working hours.

Sufficient number of toilets separate for males & females are

provided and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all

times.

Hospitals, school, community facilities are present in the nearby

town Barmer in buffer zone within 30 Km of lease area.

b

6.Proposed

Infrastructure

i. Industrial Area

(Processing Area)

The proposed project does not involve any processing. Out of the

1512.50 ha of the ML area, 800.00 ha is the mine area. An area of

4.0 ha is earmarked for Infrastructure facilities (non residential

building). Green belt is taken up along the project roads and in the

vacant areas wherever possible and also over existing dumps and

backfilled areas.

ii. Residential Area (Non

Processing Area)

All employees at the mines are provided accommodation at the

Barmer which is about 30.0 km from the mine site. Therefore the

provision of residential accommodation has not be required.

However, pucca dwelling structures is provided to the contractor’s

labour along with quality food, R.O water, electricity, water for

other uses etc., free of cost.

iii. Green Belt As one of the important components of EMP is greenbelt

development. The greenbelt development around and within the

mine area site undertaken to fulfill the following objectives:

- Mitigation of fugitive emissions;

- Noise control;

- Wastewater eco-environment;

- Aesthetics, and

- Optimum use of wasteland and environmental

conservation.

A total area of 60 ha is brought under greenbelt development

in the entire mine life.

The green belt initially was carried all around the project as

boundary plantation, along the approach roads as an avenue

plantation and also in the vacant places within the surface

infrastructure.

The plantation on the external OB dumps (90.00 ha.) and internal

OB dumps (775.00 ha) will be carried out stage wise, in

accordance with attaining the final profile of the dumps.

iv. Social Infrastructure The project is contributed to the social developmental and

infrastructural facilities as per CSR. Social Infrastructure facilities

available in adjoining area were cater the needs of the proposed

man power and population projection. However health care centre

& cultural centre are provided under CSR scheme under

consultation with local bodies.

v. Connectivity (Traffic

and Rail /Metro/

Water ways etc)

Road Link

Sonari Block is approachable by tar road (about 6 km) from

vishala Village. Vishala is approachable from NH 15 (Harsani

Phata) 15 kms and Harsani phata to Barmer town about 9 kms

by National Highway no. 15 joining Kandla port (in South) and

Shri-Ganganagar (in North). Barmer town is located at about 30

km from mines site.

Rail link

The Barmer is the nearest Railway station is about 30 km ; a

broad gauge track of Northern-Western Railway.

Air link

Jodhpur is the nearest Airport 200 km towards west of Barmer

town.

There is no well-developed drainage system in this area. There

is no significant surface water body like dam, lake.

vi. Drinking Water

Management (Source

water)

Presently the water is supplied to the mine from Giral overhead

tank of RSMM, which receives water supplies from Nimla located

at 7 km from the mine, where RSMM has tube well to tap

groundwater with permission from PHED. In future the water

requirement will be met from water reservoir of Giral thermal

power plant located at a distance of 9 km through pipe line. The

water supply to Giral TPP comes from IGNP.

vii. Sewerage System Sewage generated, is being channelized into septic tank followed

by soak pits. The total sewage generation is of the order of 134.3

m3/day. The same treated prior to disposal to avoid any adverse

impacts on water quality.

viii. Industrial Waste

Management

There is no industrial waste generated.

ix. Solid Waste

Management

Solid Wastes:

Top soil management

The top sand/soil is not to be mixed with the sand/clay/ formation.

The topsoil stacking is proposed on barren land to be stacked

separately. The area of top soil is 9.6 ha. It is proposed to have a

stack height of 5.0 m. with an overall natural slope angle.

Overburden management :

The waste generated from the mining operations during the first

three year plan period is proposed to stack as outside dump (30 m

height) and partially backfilled in de-coaled area. Outside dump is

proposed within lease areas on barren land covering an area of

90.00 ha.

In the first three years of mine operation, the overburden disposed

on outside dump. From the third year & onwards of mine

operations, backfilling would be done in de-coaled area.

Garland drain is proposed all around the waste dumps of adequate

size to arrest surface run off due to rain water.

x. Power Requirement &

Supply / Source

Reclamation programme :

Reclamation of mined out areas:

From 3th year onwards, the backfilling started. The reclamation

process was continuing from third year. A total area of 775.00 ha

to be reclaimed in the entire mine life, an area of 25.00 ha will

remain as pond. The depth of pond is 10 m.

Reclamation of overburden sites:

The overburden areas stabilized by growing trees and grasses. The

total overburden disposal area to be stabilized shall be 90.00 ha.

The total power requirement for the mine is 85 KW per day per day,

which is fulfill by 11 KV overhead transmission line from nearby

grid substation of Rajasthan Vidhyut Vitran Nigam to the mines

sub-station is located near mines.

In additional to this DG set is installed to provide emergency

power requirement for essential lighting in the mines, which is

required 34,000 liters of diesel per day.

7. Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Plan

i. Policy to be adopted RSMML has completed proceedings of land acquisition for

1512.50 ha. in which khadedari land has been acquired 1284.84*

ha under The Land Acquisition Act, 1894. In respect of land

compensation was paid Rs.188.42 Crore. to PAFs.

Type Acquired Area (In Ha.)

Government Land Area (Siwai Chak)

226.41

Charahgah Area

(Grazing Land)

73.87

Forest Area Nil

Other Govt. Department area Aabadi

9.16

Private land area (Khatedari Land)

1203.06*

Total Area 1512.50

*Actual land acquired 1284.84 ha, in which 1203.06 ha falling in ML area

& rest 81.78 ha falls outside lease. (for construction of office building.)

Under guidelines for Corporate Social Responsibility for Central

PSE’s , March 2010, RSMML provide following :

RSMML spend an amount of Rs. 1.25 crore on CSR activities

upto 2017-2018. The activities covered under CSR finalized in

consultation with the district administration and gram panchayats

of the project affected villages and the nearby villages.

Encourage and motivate the Gram Sabha to form co-operative

groups and for development of schemes, all technical and financial

assistance is being provided by RSMML.

We negotiate with villagers for developing local market and is

provide all financial and technical assistance.

We adopt some primary schools of the area.

Medical facilities to the villagers in the dispensary of the

Company.

(Central/ State) in

respect Of the project

affected persons

including home

oustees, land oustees

and landless laborers

(a brief outline to be

given).

8. Project Schedule & Cost Estimates

i. Likely date of start of

construction and

likely date of

completion (Time

schedule for the project

to be given).

ii. Estimated project cost

along with analysis in

terms of economic

viability of the project.

As existing mine project hence following buildings are

constructed:

Administrative office

Base camps

Time office

VT Centre

Store

Rest shelters

Pit head bath

Canteen

Dispensary

Water supply installations

Shed for DG set and electric sub-station

Workshop

Weigh bridge

(As existing mine project)

Project cost 212.70 Crore for 31 years has been computed

considering reserves of 29.52 million tonnes of Sonari Lignite

Mines supplied to thermal power plant & local industries for

mercantile usage.

Analysis of proposal (Final Recommendations)

i. Financial and social

benefits with special

emphasis on the

benefit to the local

people including tribal

population, if any, in

the area.

Direct as well as indirect employment opportunities are created.

For the mine workers, preference is given to local villagers as far

as possible. Standards of living were improved in this region due

to the existing project. Economic development of any region

depends largely upon the nature of activities undertaken in the

surrounding region. Corporate development invariably contributes

towards acceleration of the process of socio-economic upliftment

of the rural society.

Plate -1: Location map of Sonari Lignite Mines

Plate – 2 : Key Plan of Sonari Lignite Mines

Plate – 3 : Revenue Map of Sonari Lignite Mines