Introduction:

India has a lot of potential for development in the infrastructure and construction
sector and the cement sector is expected to largely benefit from it. Continuous
demand for exports to China and other South-East Asian countries along with the
increased requirement of the domestic sector have leaded all the cement industries
in the country to plan for increased capacities.

This paper discusses about an EIA Report that was submitted for the assessment of
the environmental impacts due to establishment and operation of the proposed
greenfield cement plant by JSW Cement Limited which proposed to set up a
greenfield cement plant adjoining mine lease area with a production capacity of 3.0
MTPA and 7.0 MTPA of cement. The proposed project has area of 303.19 acres of
single crop agricultural land. Environmental Clearance for the greenfield cement
plant project of JSW is covered under item 3(b) Cement Plants of the EIA
Notification, 2006.

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change issued Terms of Reference

(ToR) for preparation of EIA report for the proposed greenfield cement plant and
The EIA Report for the greenfield cement plant has been prepared in accordance
with the issued ToRs by the proponents.

PROJECT PROPONENTS:

The project proponents are JSW Cement Limited (JSWCL), they are experienced
in this field as they already has an installed present capacity of 4.80 MTPA, viz.,
1.10 MTPA Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and 3.70 MTPA Portland Slag
Cement (PSC).

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT

A village road passes through the proposed project site. JSWCL is committed to
divert the road from the outer boundary of the proposed site in such a way that it
does not cause any inconvenience to the local residents. The nearest railway station
is at Malkhaid at a distance of 3.4 kms, ESE from the project site and the nearest
airport is located at Hyderabad, at a distance of 135 km, NE from the project site.
Project Site Photographs
 Salient Features of Project

S. No Item Details

Proposed Capacity of Clinker 3.0 Million TPA

1 Name of the Project Cement 7.0 Million TPA (0.70 MTPA OPC, 3.50
MTPA PSC & 2.80 MTPA PPC)

Location
of Project
2 Village Village: Bhimnagar; Taluka :Sedam
District: Gulbarga
3 District & State
State : Karnataka
17930.72N 77843.04E
Extreme Coordinates of the 1799.70N 77843.66E
4
Plant site 17918.06N 77752.52E
17942.07N 77746.90E
5 Elevation 410-420 m aMSL
6 Type of land Single crop land
7 Mean Maximum Temperature 15.9 C (December)
8 Mean Minimum Temperature 40.0 C (May)
9 Relative Humidity 19-82
10 Annual Rainfall 834 mm
11 Predominant Wind Direction East
State Highway 126 (1.4 km, NW)
12 Road Connectivity
State Highway 10 (4.6 km, NE)
Malkhaid (3.4, ESE)
13 Rail Connectivity
Chitapur (5.6 km, SW)
14 Airport Hyderabad (135 km, NE)
Archaeological/Historically None within 15 km radius of the proposed project
15
Important Site site.
Kagna River (2.2 km, NW)
16 Water bodies Benithora River (5.8 km, N)
Ivni Halla stream (9.1 km, NW)
17 Forest Area None within 10 km radius
18 Sanctuaries / National Parks None within 15 km radius

Captive limestone ML area (adjacent to the site);

Existing cement plant and mines of Rajshree
19 Industries
Cement Works, Ultratech Cement Ltd. (3.5, SE);
Orient Cement Ltd (4.5 km, S)

20 Seismic Zone Zone-II as per IS:1893-2002, GoI

Site Selection Criteria
This site has been selected on the following criteria:

Availability of adequate plain barren land

Well connected to Market

Poor yielding rain fed agricultural lands

Non Mineral bearing area

No forest area in the total identified land

Power evacuation facility

The Rail Siding feasibility

No homestead land

No National Parks, Wildlife sanctuaries in 10-km radius

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE

Environmental Clearance for the greenfield cement plant project of JSW is covered
under item 3(b) Cement Plants of the EIA Notification, 2006. The Terms of
Reference for the Environment Impact Assessment study is prepared based on
TORs issued by MoEFCC.

JSWCL has entrusted the EIA studies to M/s Bhagavathi Ana Labs Pvt Ltd,
Hyderabad to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study and
preparation of EIA/EMP report in order to obtain Environmental clearance.
The Scope and objective of the study includes following issues:

Understanding the basic project activities and make a detailed review of

policy and regulations;
To study and analyze the anticipated impacts of the proposed project on
overall baseline environmental and socioeconomic conditions in its
surrounding study area.
To identify environmental sensitive features within the study area and places
of architectural and cultural importance, if any, and its safe guarding;
To recommend project specific appropriate preventive and mitigative
measures to minimize pollution, environmental and social disturbances
during entire life-cycle period of the project.
To adopt suitable environmental action plans and management systems, so
as to implement and monitor the appropriate mitigative measures;

Methodology of the Study

Reconnaissance survey was conducted by BALPL, Hyderabad and officials of
JSWSL and the sampling locations were identified on the basis of:

Predominant wind direction, expected during the period of baseline monitoring

in the study area as recorded by India Meteorological Department (IMD) at
Gulbarga;

Topography and location of surface water bodies like ponds, canals and rivers;

Location of villages/towns/sensitive areas;

Identified pollution pockets, if any, within the study area;

Accessibility, power availability and security of monitoring equipment;

Areas which represent baseline conditions.

 Environmental Attributes and Frequency of Monitoring
Frequency of Monitoring/
Attribute Parameters
Sources

Climatology and meteorology

including wind speed, wind
direction, temperature, relative
Meteorology
humidity, atmospheric
pressure, rainfall and cloud
cover
Continuous monitoring station
for entire study period on hourly
basis and also data collection
from secondary sources

Particulate Matter (PM10 &

PM2.5), Sulphur dioxide
Ambient Air 24 hourly samples twice a week
(SO2),
Quality during study period
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) and
Carbon monoxide (CO)

Physical, chemical and

Water Quality Once during the study season
bacteriological parameters

Through field visit during the

Ecology Existing flora and fauna study period and substantiated
through secondary sources
Hourly observations for 24 hours
Noise Levels Noise levels in dB(A) per location once during the
season.
Soil
Soil profile Once during the season
Characteristics
Land
Land use for different
Use/Land Data from satellite imagery.
categories
Cover
Population and Socio-
Socio- economic Primary survey and secondary
economic characteristics, labour force data from Census 2011, various
aspects characteristics, and existing Government agencies
amenities in the study area
Geology Geological history Based on data collected from secondary sources

Hydrology Drainage area and pattern,

Based on data collected from
(Surface and nature of streams, recharge and
secondary sources
Ground) discharge areas
Risk
assessment,
Disaster
Management Risk assessment study and
Based on risk assessment studies
Plan and disaster management planning
Occupational
Health and
Safety