Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

Chapter 6

IMPACTS & MITIGATION

The potential impacts of the proposed project on the area's geomorphology, surface and
groundwater resources, air quality, biological resources, and socio-cultural environment have
been discussed in the following sections. Environment Assessment checklist (Table 6.1) was
adopted to identify high risk activities and mitigation measures have also been included to
reduce the unacceptable impacts. Where appropriate, mitigation measures have also been
included to reduce the unacceptable impacts. Likely impacts that trigger the Environmental
Management Plan (EMP), and accompanied mitigation measures have been identified in this
IEE. The likely organizational structure and responsibilities of various functionaries towards
EMP also have been highlighted, indicated generic environmental control measures that need to
be applied during the possible implementation of EMP if and when required.
The purpose of lEE is not only to address and analyze the expected environmental impacts of a
project, but also to enhance project benefits, and to introduce standards of good practice to be
adopted for all project works.

The primary objectives are to:

Facilitate the implementation of the mitigation measures required by EPA
Define the responsibilities of the project proponent and contractor and provide a means
of effective communication of environmental issues between them.
Identify monitoring parameters in order to ensure the effectiveness of the mitigation
measures.
Provide a mechanism for taking timely action in the face of unanticipated environmental
situations
Identify training requirements at various levels.

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

Some of the salient points to be kept in view are:

The proposed project site of Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela Quarry Site exists near
Daira Rajgan and at about 10 Km from Choa Saidan Shah.
Water will be supplied through bore for drinking, washing and sprinkling purpose.
The area is not a wild life area and the existing form of wildlife is restricted to local
reptiles and birds. Domesticated animals include goat, sheep, cow, and buffalo etc.
The area is located at Amrela Near Daira Rajgan (District Chakwal) of the province of
Punjab, Pakistan. Its longitude is 72.8556 East and latitude 32.9303 North at a height
of 499 m elevation above the sea level. Chakwal is a big town in Pakistan, having about
101,200 inhabitants.
Chakwal District is in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the north of the Punjab province,
Chakwal district is bordered by Khushab to its south, Rawalpindi to its north east,
Jhelum to its east, Mianwali to its west and Attock to its north west. The large part of
M2 passes through Chakwal District.

6.1 Key Environmental Concerns

Following environmental concerns are usually associated with such activities have been dealt
within following order:

Physical Environment
Effluent disposal
Solid Waste
Particulate Matter
Gaseous & Vehicular Emissions
Noise Level
Water Resources

Biological Resources
Flora Fauna

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

Social and Cultural Environment

Displacement
Employment
Traffic and Transportation

6.1.1 Effluent Disposal

Unintentional contamination of water resources
Discharges during Civil Work (Construction Phase)

Mitigation Measures
Drinking water is obtained from the underground water resources. The drinking water
will be regularly monitored by an external Laboratory to view any significant change in
the quality.
Waste water will be disposed off in Local Drain; which is a common drainage facility
for the area around.

6.1.2 Solid Waste

Solid waste is generated in civil work.
Earth Excavations & movements.

Mitigation Measures
Al-Makka Crushing Plant is installed to produce different grades of limestone to make it
reusable and marketable product. Which will be used for concrete work, asphalt process
and sub-base for road working. No waste will be produced, all the products are usable in
the market. Therefore the excavated limestone undergoes the process of crushing and
screening and will be dispatched in the market.
The clay will be used for plantation purpose.

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

6.1.3 Particulate Matter

Dust emission, may be of significant impact depending on the nature of the activity.
Quarrying/Excavation
Crushing/Screening
Traffic dust
Movement of material at site

Mitigation Measures
Offices and rooms would be constructed to facilitate officers and workers at site. Dust
generated in construction phase, will be reduced by careful handling of the materials and
processes. Use of goggles, safety shoes and helmets will be made mandatory for the
contractors.

Dust emissions (mainly common ambient air dust) will be generated in significant
quantities while quarrying. The employees will be provided with the goggles and dust
masks.

6.1.4 Gaseous Emissions

The emissions from any source may pollute the environment.
Power generation
Manufacturing operations

Mitigation Measures
Emission and discharges during civil work will be duly and periodically monitored to
prevent any adverse environmental impact.

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

6.1.5 Noise Level

The noise may be the result of the following activities:
Civil Work
Extraction
Movement of Traffic
Crushing and Screening of limestone

Mitigation Measures
The traffic schedule for loading and unloading constructional material shall be
accordingly to avoid any disturbance and shall remain the minimum noise level.
Training and Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) shall be provided to the workers.

6.1.6 Water Resources & Impact Analysis

Groundwater Quality and Level Mining operation does not affect the quality and level
of groundwater. Projected impact is nil.
Surface Runoff Because of quarrying operation the land will be leveled. Resultantly
the impact will be nil.
Drainage The leveled area will experience better drainage. Impact will be positive.

Mitigation Measures
To avoid any undesirable impact on the water resources in the area following mitigation are
recommended.

Adopt a general strategy to avoid contamination of soil and ground water from construction

and extraction activities. The strategy may comprise of the following:

Minimized and controlled discharge from construction and extraction to the
environment.
Regular and scheduled monitoring to ensure that no contamination of soil and water has
taken place.
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These mitigation measures will be adopted to ensure safety of the environment.

6.2 Biological Resources

6.2.1 Flora Fauna
Impacts on Wildlife (if any)
Environmental Profile
Variety of resident birds, domesticated animals and few species of reptiles are found. No
endangered species are reported in the area. The site is located in the Punjab Plain. After
rainfalls, wild growth of species of shrubs and herbs is observed. No unique or endangered
species of fauna are found in the project area. The parks and other recreational areas are
insufficient.

Impact Analysis
Following was considered during the impact analysis of future activities in the operating area:
Similarly removal of vegetation directly may result in soil erosion, increase wind and runoff
erosion and eventually adversely affect the soil stability.
These impacts are usually small scale and localized. Adverse impacts can be readily avoided by
adopting simple precautionary and mitigatory measures. In most cases the impacts are
insignificant.
No endangered species or wildlife sanctuaries are reported to exist within the area.
Through proper infrastructure design contamination of soil and groundwater can be
minimized.

Mitigation Measures
Following Mitigation Measures are adopted to minimize impacts on wild life:

No endangered species are reported to exist within the study area. All the necessary
precautions will be taken to ensure the minimum disturbance to the local flora and
fauna.

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

Strict instructions to be given to all personnel working in project area to refrain from
killing, capturing or disturbing any species of bird, reptile or mammal encountered
during project activities, except in self defense.
Removal of vegetation will be minimized.
Appropriate mitigation measures will be introduced to minimize contamination of soil
and ground water from construction activities.

6.3 Socio Economic Impacts

Socio economic impacts of employment opportunities in the area is described below:
Social Impact of the Proposed Project
a) Displacement No displacement of population is envisaged.
b) Employment Employment opportunities generated by the project include construction
labour at the site, it includes the skilled and unskilled labour and security guards (chowkidars).
Thus good amount of employment opportunities will be generated.
c) Traffic and Transportation Vehicle movement shall not result in significant increase in
traffic density. The roads are already frequently used.
d) Noise Area is not densely populated, still extra measures are taken into consideration so
that the noise from the production process shall not exert any adverse impact on the community.
e) Land Lease As the mineral resources belong to Provincial Government, these are leased out
generating significant amount of revenue. Overall impact is positive.
f) Health Health of residents of Amrela village (District Chakwal) is not affected. However,
the workers at the quarrying site may suffer from minor negative health impacts due to dust and
sound.
g) Land Ownership On completion of limestone mining, it will not be affected, the land has to
be restored of indigenous vegetation.
h) Restoration/Vegetation On completion of quarrying site the land will be available for re-
establishment of vegetation.
i) Afforestation The quarried site will be available for plantation of trees.

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

j) Community Development This will motivate the management to undertake welfare

measures for development of local communities. Impact will be positive.

Mitigation Measures
Following mitigations are recommended for the anticipated social impacts:

The civil work will be undertaken as such that negligible noise will be induced.
Employment opportunities will preferably be provided to the locals incase of new
requirement, if any.

Mitigation Measures after the quarrying operation

A comprehensive rehabilitation / development plan is suggested with the purpose of
environmental preservation. Salient features are appended below:
Restoring of natural habitats and ecosystem.
Restoring the soils (amendments) for the growth of plants.
Establishing plants on the restored sites.

6.3.1 Other Impacts

Respiratory problems, irritation to throat and lungs, headache, distress and nuisance are the
health issues that are commonly faced by the quarry site workers and nearby residents. As far as
this project is concerned, it is located at a quite distance from the residential areas. There will be
minor health impacts that cause will cause little to no issues to the nearby residents. According
to the results of survey that was conducted at the nearby residential areas showed that few of the
people had a headache problem.

However, Al-Makka management ensures to completely cooperate with the nearby residents
in order to reduce these public health issues (if they prevail in future).

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Initial Environmental Examination Al-Makka Crushing Plant Amrela, District Chakwal

6.4 The involvement of the stakeholders

Stakeholders consultancy refers to a process through which the public/stakeholders can
influence decisions and share control over development proposals which may affect them. In a
participation exercise, the shared analysis, agenda setting and decision making are normally
reached through consensus on the main issues between the public and the proponent.

The Environment Protection Act 1997 makes the participation of the local communities
mandatory in the planning and design of a development project. United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 endorsed the process of stakeholders
participation and consultation as one of the key documents of the Conference-Agenda 21. It is
obligatory not only to satisfy the legal requirements of the EIA process in Pakistan but also to
improve and enhance the social and environmental design of the Project.

6.4.1 Objectives of Stakeholder Consultation

The aims and objectives of public involvement and consultation of this project include:

To provide information related to proposed Project activities to stakeholders.

Allowing the public to express their views on the scope and content of an EIA (and the
proposed development action).
Obtaining local and traditional knowledge (corrective and creative) before decision-
making.
To seek for the participation of all interested parties and to identify stakeholders
interests and issues.
Ensuring that important impacts are not overlooked.
Reducing conflict through the early identification of contentious issues.
Influencing project design in a positive manner (thereby creating a sense of ownership
of the proposal).

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6.4.2 Methodology:
The methodology adopted for the purpose of socio-economic and heath assessment was based
on general observation, interviews, questionnaires and recording of various parameters for the
baseline information. Stakeholders were selected randomly for this process. Secondary data
includes mode of transportation, education level and facilities, health facilities, water and
sanitation facilities etc. Views of the people about the proposed project were collected by
interviewing them using a semi structured questionnaire.
6.4.3 Classification of Stakeholders
One of the most common divisions is between primary and secondary stakeholders. The former
consists of those whose interests can be affected directly by a decision on a proposed initiative
(examples are local communities living in the Project Area). Secondary stakeholders consist of
those who are not directly affected but may be indirectly affected and/or have an ability to
influence the decision (examples might be international conservation NGOs or local/national
media). Another classification divides stakeholders into internal and external groups. The
former are those who are involved in the decision-making and the latter are those having
interests that may be directly or indirectly affected.
6.4.4 Stakeholders Involvement
The following stakeholders were consulted for the proposed project
Health Department, Chakwal
Villages:
Daira Rajgan
Amrela
Ara Basharat
Chumbi
6.4.4.1 The Feedback Forms
The purpose of the feedback forms is to provide an overview of the population living within and
without the vicinity of any project site. For the proposed project, people from the fore
mentioned areas were consulted and their views about the proposed project were recorded.
Furthermore, their views in the form of a feedback forms has been attached.

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