Report on Reuse of abandoned Quarries and mine pits in Kerala

REUSE OF ABANDONED QUARRIES AND MINE PITS KERALA

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE OCTOBER 2011

Vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dtd. 25-02-2011 Thiruvananthapuram

Acknowledgements We thank the GOK (Industries Department) for identifying us to assign the task of Quarry and mine pit reuse measures study. We wrote the text that appears in the following pages, after an in-depth literature research and study of the best practices in this regard in the leading countries of the world. We had had field visits, discussions with stake holders, other scientists and non-governmental organizations. In this context, we owe a special word of thanks to the following organizations, officials, and non-officials. The Principal Secretary, Industries Department, GOK, Shri. T. Balakrishnan (Addl. Chief Secretary, GOK) is the moving spirit behind initiation of this project. We also appreciate deeply the keen curiosity of Shri. Rajesh Kumar Singh (Secretary, Dept. of LSG, GOK) in this project. We, the members of the Sub-Committee (SC), sincerely acknowledge help, cooperation and ambience afforded by the Director and professional and administrative staff, Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. We tender our special gratitude to M/s. Jacob Punnen (Consultant Mining Engineer, Trivandrum) and Jacob Kurien (Formerly Director, KMED Project and Department of Mining and Geology), for their critical and thoughtful contributions in tempering our minds in this task. We also place on record the scientific inputs from the Director, CESS, Akkulam, Trivandrum; Regional Director, CGWB, Trivandrum; Director, Geological Survey of India, Trivandrum; Director, GWD, Government of Kerala, Trivandrum and the Kerala State Landuse Board, Trivandrum. The SC in order to gather the views of the LSGs, circulated to all District Panchayats in the state, a set of five data sheets for filling in/recording response from Panchayats coming under their jurisdiction.

i

We dispatched a set of data sheets each to the Secretaries of the DPs along with a request to make photocopies of the same if need be for distribution in the GPs to collect their response. On this theme, the SC had a face to face interaction with the Chairperson, Secretary and some members of the DP, Trivandrum. Prof. (Dr.) A. Bijukumar, Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus enthusiastically contributed to this effort by answering the some relevant points in the data sheet. M/s. English India Clays Ltd. and Dakshin Clay Mines (P) Ltd. (both operating in T’puram dist) afforded a cordial welcome and a safe visit to the mine pits in their operational areas. Dr. Babu Ambatt, (Executive Director CED, Trivandrum) and his team of scientists, facilitated a roundtable with us on our own request, which helped to flag very useful points/positions on Quarry reuse modalities. But for the help and co-operation of local quarry men and members of the civil society, our visits to a large number of abandoned quarries and some operating quarries and clay and laterite pits and china clay mines in Kerala would not have been useful and rewarding. The Sub-Committee October 2011

ii

Members of the Sub-Committee (G.O. (Ms.) No. 57/2011/ID dtd. 25.02.2011) 1. Sri. Chandramohana Kumar, K.R. Senior Geologist (Rtd., Department of Mining and Geology Kanakavilasam,

MERA-3,

Chalakuzhy

Road,

Medical

College

P.O.,

Thiruvananthapuram-695 011 2. Prof. (Dr.) Thrivikramji K.P. Convener Head of Department of Geology (Rtd.) University of Kerala C/32 Sankar Lane, Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram-695 010 3. Sri. M.P. Muraleedharan Director, Geological Survey of India (Rtd.) Ashwini, 300B, Gandhi Nagar, Vazhthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram-695 014 4. Sri. J. Pradeep Kukillaya Director, Ground Water Department (Rtd.) DPN 146, Survey School Road, Peroorkada P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695 005 5. Prof. (Dr.) V.K. Venugopal Head of Department of Soil Science (Rtd.) Kerala Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Vellayani Madhavi Nivas, GRA 231 , Kottara Lane, Gowrishapattom, Thiruvananthapuram695 004

iii

Glossary ADB: Asian Development Bank Aerobic compost: A method of composting biodegradable waste in windrows Agro forestry: A land management system that integrates agricultural crops with forest species AQ&MP: Abandoned Quarry and Mine Pit Aquaculture: Also known as aqua farming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants Aquifer: A saturated underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well ar: are Artificial aquifer: An aquifer created by placing aggregates of appropriate specifications in an abandoned quarry Bathychart: Bathychart (or hydrographic) charts are typically produced to support safety of surface or sub-surface navigation, and usually show seafloor relief or terrain as contour lines (called depth contours or isobaths) and selected

depths

(soundings),

and

typically

also

provide

surface navigational information Biogas: Typically refers to a gaseous fuel produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen Biological reuse: Rehabilitation measures involving plant and animal species BOT: Build, Operate and Transfer Brick and tile clay pit: An extraction pit for red brick and tile making clay; usually located in modern or ancient floodplains of rivers CESS: Centre for Earth Science Studies, Akulam, Thiruvananthapuram CGWB: Central Ground Water Board, Kesavadsapuram, Trivandrum 695004 China clay mine: An organized commercial surface mining project for extracting raw china clay Composite quarry: A quarry which started operating as a shelf or L-shaped quarry, later transformed into a pit (U-shaped one) on continued extraction iv

DMG: Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Kerala DPR: Detailed Project Report Eco-restoration: An intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability EFA: Ecologically Fragile Area Ela: Malayalam word for a contiguous stretch of Paddy fields usually confined on either side with toes of slopes ESA: Ecologically Sensitive Area GOI: Government of India GOK: Government of Kerala GP: Grama Panchayat Groundwater: Water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and fractures of rock formations GSI: Geological Survey of India, (founded in 1851) is an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, GOI. GSI is the prime provider and repository of basic earth science information. From 2004 onwards, GSI is also the nodal agency in the country for landslide studies (Hazard zonation and mitigation studies) ha: hectare Horticulture: the study, activity covering different disciplines related to production of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants Hydroseeding: A single step process involving spraying of slurry of seed, fertilizer, top soil, farm manure and water Kole: Low-lying floodplain, fertile paddy lands in Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Kole is the Malayalam equivalent of bumper yield as crop failures were very common in the historic days. Laterite pit: A pit out of which the laterite bricks are cut and partly dressed inplace and extracted and used widely as in building construction in the Malabar districts Laterite: a red, residual soil containing large amounts of aluminum and ferric hydroxides, formed by the decomposition of many kinds of rocks, and found esp. in well-drained tropical rain forests

v

Lease: A contract by which one party (landlord or lessor) gives to another (tenant, or lessee) the use and possession of land, buildings, property, etc. for a specified time and for fixed payments LSG: Local Self Government ML: Mining Lease msl: mean sea level NGO: Non-Governmental Organization Pattaland: A piece of privately owned land Permit: A document granting permission; license; warrant Pisciculture: Breeding and rearing of fish as a science or industry. Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture PL: Prospecting Lease Poramboke: A parcel of land whose sole owner is the government QDB: Quarry Data Base QRAC: Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell Quarry rim: A line along which head of a quarry wall and surrounding ground meet Quarry shoulder: A ribbon like strip of land adjoining the far side of the quarry rim Quarry: A quarry is a type of open-pit mine or shelf facilitating extraction of rubble mechanically or manually Recharge of aquifer: A hydrologic process where water moves downward from surface to replenish groundwater Refilling: Process of completely/partially covering a natural or made depression or pit (for e.g., an abandoned quarry) with environmentally harmless waste Reuse measure: measure intended to convert sites once used for extraction (e.g., quarry) without harming the environment Rogue Quarry: Amenable only to fencing and cordoning-off. Royalty: A revenue levied by the government from the lessee. RQP: Recognized Qualified Person SC: Sub-committee appointed by the GOK based on the GO vi

SHG: Self Help Group Silvopasture: Agroforestry practice integrating livestock, forage production and forestry in the same land management system TCCPSG: Technical committee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary to Government (2009) Theme park: A park dedicated to specific theme like water sports, camping, sport fishing etc Water harvesting structure: Any artificial structure with an open “mouth” that will efficiently capture and store every drop of water entering /falling into it Water-logging: Accumulation of water in variable depths in the quarries WB: World Bank ***************

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Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

i

MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE

iii

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

iv

CH.-I: EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

1

CH.-II: A PROFILE OF QUARRYING IN KERALA

21

CH.-III: RESTORATION MEASURES FOR QUARRIES AND MINE PITS AN OVERVIEW CH.-IV: SUMMARY

APPENDICES I. II.

Know Your Quarry- A Course Outline Quarry Study Tour

III.

“Green” Fund for reuse treatment of quarries

IV.

Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell, Q-RAC

V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI.

Quarry Data Cell, Q-DAC Inventorying of Quarriable Tracts in Kerala Redesign DMG Website with Additional Content Scientific Advisory Board Quarry Enumeration Sheet (Draft) Press Release and Responses Questionnaire on reuse of abandoned quarries

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

CHAPTER-I EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS The GOK issued an order vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011, constituting a sub-committee (SC) to undertake a study on the reuse of abandoned quarries/mine pits. This report is aimed at enabling the government to formulate policy/strategy for the rehabilitation of abandoned quarries in the state, which are at present blemishes on the landscape and dreaded points of accidental drowning deaths. The study the first of its kind in the state and perhaps in the country is envisaged to aid in the preparation and implementation of rehabilitation and reuse of abandoned quarries thereby minimizing impairment to the quality of soil, land, water, air and environment, which constitute the basis for all living systems. The recommendations on the mandate of the SC are presented under the following sub heads: 1. Current state of quarries and quarrying in Kerala 2. Quarry reuse measures and their implementation 3. Recommended measures for ensuring the safety and security 4. Identifying the agency which can restore the abandoned quarries. 5. Legal/legislative measures for quarrying and reuse 6. Financial implications and support needed 7. Restoration of quarry pits in a phased manner giving priority to category of quarry, area and danger to the public. 8. Success stories of quarry/mine reclamation 9. Other recommendations The SC identifies a host of reuse options which can be successfully implemented through community/stakeholder participation. The abandoned quarries which are currently “bold eyesores” can be transformed to “Oases of sustainable livelihood support systems” of the masses, managed by the community and monitored by the LSGs, leading to better protection and conservation of natural ecosystems.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

1.1.

Current Status of Quarries and Quarrying 1.

The state has a very large number of quarries, a staggering 8,00010,000 according to the Kerala Quarry Owners Association - a self interest group. It roughly works out to be 8 or 10 quarries per panchayat.

2.

The quarries are primarily used for extraction of runoff quarry rubble or to produce value added products or for producing brick and tile clays.

3.

Due to the relatively low unit cost of the quarry products, this industry is distributed far and wide in the state and the only ruling constraints regarding spatial distribution are purely geological.

4.

Even though quarries have a wide range of size, (say anywhere between 10 or 15 ares to several hectares), the smaller quarries have a low operational life whereas the larger ones are of the order of hectares in terms of the areal extent, and most have been operational for the last several decades.

5.

The quarry land ownership varies widely in the state, many are in patta land, some are operated on leased patta land, and still others are in poramboke or public land. Such varied land ownership obviously creates hurdles wherein implementation of reuse treatment utilizing public funds or third party donated funds come face to face with certain legal hurdles. The GOK will have to come up with solutions for removing such hurdles.

6.

Currently, the DMG keeps an automated data base of quarries of the state and only data pertaining to eight of the southern districts have populated the database. The creation of database, being a crucial piece of centralized facility, is progressing rather “slow”. At the current pace, the database might take a couple of more years to attain full coverage of the state and functionality.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

7.

This state can be remedied only by switching to a mission mode program of basic field data collection and supplementing it from the paper files in the office/s of DMG.

8.

All the hard rock quarries and many of the pits remain flooded most of the time during the monsoon seasons and the operations get disrupted. Pumping the ponded water is the only recourse before the operator to ensure the uninterrupted supply of rubble or other rubble based manufactured products.

9.

The inspection in various districts revealed one or two points, viz., the quarry pits are flooded and stay that way for the rest the year, so that the water accumulating is available for one or the other type of societal use.

10.

Laterite pits and tile and brick clay pits are sort of exceptions, in that if suitably located on the land surface, such pits shall serve very useful recharge structures of GW to the aquifers.

1.2.

QUARRY REUSE MEASURES

I.2.1-A:

RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: U-SHAPED ROCK QUARRY Summary of Recommendations

1. Type of Quarry

U-shaped quarry. Two types: a. Deep quarry (water column > 2.0 m) and b. Shallow quarry (water column ≤ 2.0 m) a. Physical treatment like stabilization of shoulders/rims;

2. PreTreatment

easing of head of slopes, rough levelling of quarry floor, developing/managing of lower order channels. b. Depth charting of reservoir area.

A. Deep Quarry (Possible Reuse measures) a. Water reservoir (drinking/irrigation/water sports) 3. Reuse measures

b. Aquaculture site (e.g. Pisciculture etc.) c. Artificial aquifer d. Vegetative greening of quarry-walls e. GW recharge source

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Specifics of Recommendations: U-Shaped Deep Quarry Drinking water source with/without treatment. a. Water reservoir

Irrigation Swimming, diving, boating Picnic and camping sites etc. on the back shores

b. Aquaculture site

Edible/ornamental fish farming Cultivation of flowering aquatic plants (e.g., Lotus, Water lilies)

c. Artificial aquifer d. Vegetative greening of quarry-walls e. GW recharge source

Suitably refilling a small quarry in areas of severe drinking water scarcity to create an artificial aquifer. Vast areas of stone quarry walls greened by planting vetiver on multi-storey, “perched”, planting ditches fixed on quarry face with rock bolt and thin reinforced concrete-slab/toughened plastic-plank. (A wide practice in many quarries in China). Water siphoned off to recharge-pits,-wells and –ponds.

Summary of Recommendations: U-Shaped Shallow Quarry B. Shallow Quarry (Possible Reuse measures) a. Aquaculture 4. Reuse measures

b. Pisciculture c. Composting site d. Fruit crops e. Vegetable and tubers

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Specifics of Recommendations: Shallow Quarry Shallow quarries (Reuse measures) Cultivation of aquatic flowering plants, like lotus and water

a. Aquaculture

lilies Edible/ornamental fish farming (e.g. for edible fishes Tilappia,

b. Pisciculture

Catla, Rohu)

c. Composting site

Aerobic composting of biodegradable waste of neighbouring community

d. Fruit Crops

Banana, Gooseberry, Pineapple, Papaya

e. Vegetable &

Moringa and Koval, Yams (Chena, Kachil, Chembu), Sweet

Tubers

Potato (Madhura Kizhangu)

Recommendations: Rogue Quarry Amenable only to rim/shoulder stabilization by hydro-seeding, “Rogue”

geo-textiles carpeting and planting tree species. Erecting (1) protective metallic barricade around the rim (2) hazard warning signs and (3) depth charts

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

I.2.1-B:

RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: L-SHAPED ROCK QUARRY Summary of Recommendations

1. Type of Quarry

L-shaped quarry Physical treatment, i.e., stabilization of shoulders/rims; easing of

2. PreTreatment

head of slopes, rough leveling of quarry floor, developing/managing of lower order channels and preservation of water reservoir in quarry. a. Plant nurseries b. Forage farm c. Silvopasture

3. Reuse measures i. Quarry floor

d. Composting yard e. Mini-biogas plant site f.

Mini-livestock farms

g. Mini-piggeries h. Mini-solar electric farms i.

Crematoria

j.

Highway side rest area for motorists

k. Education site

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Specifics of Recommendations: Quarry Floor a. Plant nurseries b. Forage cultivation c. Silvopasture

Composite nurseries of multi-purpose trees, fruit, vegetable crops, medicinal plants and forage. Grass species viz., Guinea, fodder trees, Subabul, Gliricidia, green manure crops dhainja, sun hemp Planting of bamboo, Casurina and fodder grass

d. Composting yard e. Mini-biogas plant site f. Mini-livestock

Aerobic composting site; waste supplied by neighbouring communities Feedstock is aerobic compost E.g., dairy, poultry etc. as a community livelihood support

farms

system

g. Mini-piggeries

Seclusion of site qualifies for pig farming

h. Mini-solar electric

Co-exist with the rest of activities. Erection of solar panels

farms

on southerly facing quarry walls

i. Crematoria

Ideal site for locating modern community crematoria

j. Roadside rest area k. Education site

Vehicle (minor) repair and parking; cafeteria, shops, restrooms, children’s park etc for motorists Rock, mineral and soil learning sites for school-age youth

Specifics of Recommendations: Quarry Wall/Rim and Shoulder ii. Quarry wall

Build artificial gutters with rock bolt and concrete/ rigid plastic slabs on quarry wall for planting vetiver.

Rim and

Stabilize rim/shoulder by hydro-seeding, geo-textile carpeting

shoulder

followed by planting tree species

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

I.2.2-A:

RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: LATERITE BRICK AND RED EARTH PITS

1.

Shelf (L-shaped) and Pit (Box-shaped) (no minimum area

Type of Quarry

stipulation as per Minor Mineral rules.) a. Protective green fencing, and warning signs and crash barriers (if wall abuts on edge of right of way

Pre-Treatment: 2.

rim

and shoulder

of road) b. Re-vegetation with Lemon grass, Vetiver along the rim and shoulder of the pit c. A Green belt of Casurina/Bamboo d. Vetiver hedge row to protect rim and wall of quarry a. Garden land (Cashew, tuber crops, yams etc.)

3.

Reuse measures: floor

b. Real estate c. Amphitheaters and open-air theaters

Water 4.

storage

conservation

& Recharge pit with recharge bores.

structure

I.2.2-B:

RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: TILE AND BRICK CLAY PITS

Currently, in an ela, brick and tile clay permits are held by several lessees and as a consequence, the pits are non-contiguous, separated by “virgin” paddy patches of ela. There is a bank guarantee (currently @ ` 275/- per m3 of extract) to ensure the refilling of pit in the post-extraction/exhaustion state by the lessee, finally placing back the saved and stored top soil evenly. Since 2009, the extraction permits are granted only on the basis of a No-Objection Certificate issued by the District Collector concerned. The geologist concerned, if satisfied on inspection of the restored site, recommends release of bank guarantee.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

If an ela is dotted with numerous abandoned pits following are recommended: 1.

Type of Quarry

Box shaped, water logged pits (in units of < 0.25 ha) Topsoil of undisturbed patches in the ela gathered and stored.

2.

Uneven ela-scape remade as levelled and

Pre-Treatment

terraced cultivable land. Finally spread the stored topsoil evenly at the top.

3.

Reuse pre-condition

Cultivate such areas on a co-operative basis.

Abandoned 1.

Type of Quarry

2.

Pre-Treatment

Box shaped, water logged pits (in units of < 0.25 ha) a. If

water-logged,

fencing

and

water-hazard

warnings along with display of depth charts a. Pisciculture of edible and ornamental fish b. Farming sites of aquatic plants (e.g., lotus, water

3.

Reuse measures

lily) c. Source of irrigation water and domestic use after treatment.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

I.2.3: RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: CHINA CLAY MINE

1. Type of Quarry

Large mine pits (currently 1.0 ha or more in area); water logged Protective fencing, and warning signs Depth charting Re-vegetation of rim and edge (e.g., vetiver, lemon

2. Pre-Treatment

grass) Masonry, or earthen gutters to divert surface run off away from the mine pit to protect erosion of the walls and water quality A Green belt of Casurina/Bamboo in the buffer zone  Pisciculture: Edible and ornamental fish  Cultivation of aquatic flowering plants like lotus, water lily

3. Reuse measures

 Source of water for lift irrigation, industrial and domestic use after treatment.  Develop children’s park, picnic ground, play ground, open air theatre etc. after landscaping the land around the shore line as in Sargalaya, Kozhikode district

All quarries treated for reuse based on one or more methods in the foregoing need periodic after care (i.e., periodic monitoring and maintenance) The key to success of any of the restoration programmes is the identification of suitable indicators (of quality of biodiversity, soil, water and air) to monitor the quality of the restoration programmes. However, each reuse option proposed in the foregoing needs careful validation by a group of specialists in the Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell, Office of DMG, Thiruvananthapuram.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

1.3.

Recommended measures for ensuring the safety and security of the general public and also animals; if the abandoned pits cannot be used for any particular purpose. 1.

Erect a metallic barricade to serve as a barrier for both humans and animals (similar to metal barricades erected by the sides of dangerous curves in modern Highways).

2.

Proper warning signs shall be erected at specific points in all the foot paths and roads heading to the quarry or passing alongside the quarry. If the quarry is seasonally or permanently flooded, warning signs announcing the maximum depth of ponded water shall be displayed.

3.

The Grama Panchayat (GP) concerned shall be in charge of securing and servicing this fence. The GP will arrange mock drills with the school/s in the neighbourhood (i.e., within a radius of 1.0 Km from the quarry) twice every academic session (viz., before the onset of SW and NE monsoons) on the risks and hazards in trespassing the perimeters (i.e., barricaded area) of the quarry.

4.

The fenced abandoned quarry needs periodic maintenance, like de-weeding of the right of way of the protective fence. The MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program) funds could be used for the maintenance of the restored quarries.

1.4.

Identify the agency which can restore the abandoned quarries.

The abandoned quarry restoration is a new ballgame in the state. As such, there is no designated government agency or readily available expert group in the government sector to assist the GPs in identification, design and preparation of vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

DPR and in the supervision and implementation of restorative treatments of quarries. Therefore, the committee recommends creation of: 1.

Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell (QRAC) in the Department of Mining and Geology, Govt. of Kerala, shall be the apex scientific and technical group in the state to offer scientific/technical framework to assist the LSG in reuse related activities.

2.

The QRAC shall have a panel of experts (consisting of geologists, eco-restoration experts, hydrogelogists, forestry/farm scientists and civil engineers) to identify and design the tasks of the framework and advise the Cell in implementing the tasks to complete the reuse treatments. QRAC also shall design a monitoring and maintenance scheme to accompany the restoration related DPR.

3.

The District/Block/Grama Panchayat concerned shall approach QRAC for designing a restoration plan (like identification, design and estimate, implementation of restoration plan and future upkeep of the restored quarry) and a DPR.

4.

For identification of restoration measures, the LSG shall seek initial advice from one or more of their technical committees. This committee/s shall advise the LSG regarding the possible reuse options and the LSG will forward the same to the QRAC for further scientific and feasibility analysis through outsourcing or in-house preparation of the DPR. The DPR will be examined and approved by QRAC in the DMG prior to implementation.

5.

The LSG/Government can be in the lookout for industry/ institution/ organization directly involved in the quarrying or vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

indirectly involved in quarrying as an end user or societal-wellwisher, for adopting the quarry identified for implementing restorative measures based on a DPR for restoration and post restoration maintenance and monitoring for periods of 5 to 10 yr. 1.5.

Legal/legislative measures, if any required 1.

In the ‘Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules 1967’, there does not exist any clause for the prevention of abandoning of quarry pits. However, the lessee is obligated to give a 3 months’ notice to the government expressing his intention to stop the operation.

2.

The GOI has published draft rules “Minor Mineral Regulation And Development Act, 2011” in which majority of the existing rules governing the administration of major minerals have been extended for minor minerals also. In this, provision is made for a Quarry Closure Plan. The SC understands that GOK will frame rules under this act in due course.

3.

The quarries found abandoned for more than 5 years have to be taken over by the LSG for adopting rehabilitation or to take up reuse projects according to the merit. Government may make suitable legislation for this purpose.

1.6.

Financial implication required for reclamation/reuse 1.

The Bank guarantee currently exists only for mining of major minerals. The current legal regime does not impose any bank guarantee in respect of quarrying of minor minerals, except in the case of brick and tile clay and sand (karamanal). Unlike in the case of major minerals, there are no laws governing the quarry closure or their reuse, at present.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

2.

The SC, therefore, recommends a total overhaul of fund inflow to GOK from quarrying operations. Obviously, this warrants newer measures of raising the money through cess/tax on account of trade of quarry extracts, viz., runoff quarry rock or rubble, value added coarse and fine aggregates as well as rail road ballast, road metal etc.

3.

The current option of compounding of royalty levied from the quarry operators is anachronistic, illogical, and unscientific and consequently is a great drain on the exchequer. Instead of optional compounding, a tax on royalty based on ad valorem be introduced. The Government may reserve 20% of such proceeds for quarry reuse works. Introducing a modified tax regime similar to VAT in which the ‘end-user-pay-the-royalty’ (as currently practiced in the State of Gujarat) can be thought of after due consideration of its feasibility.

4.

A financial instrument like quarry reuse bond be issued by government to the lessee to ensure the fund flow at the time of implementation of reuse related programmes in abandoned quarry/ies. The size of quantum of bond money shall be proportional to the quarry extract output as per the mining plan (see Appendix III).

5.

All quarrying operations are a direct assault on the environment and hence the state government has to come forward to create a Quarry Restoration Super Fund for implementing quarry reuse programmes. This issue can be taken up with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI, for financial support considering the special status of Kerala due to high population density.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

1.7.

Restoration of quarry pits in a phased manner giving priority to category of quarry, area and danger to the public.

Certainly all the abandoned quarries do not call for immediate restoration or reuse. The quarries range widely in their areal extent, depth, land title, proximity to population centers, state and national highways and protected areas (like, sanctuaries, national parks, ESAs, EFAs).

Hence, the SC

recommends prioritization of abandoned quarries for implementation of reuse related programmes on the bases of the criteria in Box 1.1.

BOX 1.1: Criteria set for selection of quarries for reuse options 1. All quarries larger than 10.0 ar in area 2. All quarries located in poramboke land 3. All quarries posing hazards and located within 500 m of population centers and tribal colonies 4. All quarries regardless of their hydrologic status 5. Quarries, with good access, abutting on the right of way of state roads, national highways and rail roads 6. Quarries abutting on the floodplains of rivers 7. Any other

The second priority shall go to quarries in patta land fulfilling criteria in the Box 1.1. Any quarries in patta land, remaining abandoned for a period of 5 years or more be taken up for reuse. Logically, the issue of implementing any measure in patta lands needs the consent of the land owner. Another item needing careful consideration is the investment of public funds in a privately owned structure like quarries. The latter calls for suitable modification of rules governing investment or the government (through the LSG) acquiring the land and quarry, enabling the investment. The feasibility of a framework like ‘BOT’ in the reuse programmes can be examined.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Small abandoned quarries (area ≤ 10.0 ar) need to be taken up in a different perspective. The respective LSG can initiate discussions with the quarry-landowner, based on scientific facts regarding profitability of implementing measures for reuse. In this context, SC recommends water based reuse programmes. The quarries of Kerala are located in one or the other physiographic division’s viz., midland, low highland or portions of the high coastal land. The SC recommends the creation of Quarry Data Base as the first step in prioritizing and phasing of the restoration of abandoned quarries and pits. The request for reuse measures shall originate from the respective LSGs. The expert team then shall make a site-inspection of the particular abandoned quarry to judge the level of priority warranted by the site. This will pave the way for taking up the quarry reuse program development/implementation. As a continuing process QDB shall also be the basis for research leading to prioritization of quarries for reuse related programs. 1.8.

Success stories of restoration 1.

In Trivandrum district, a large parcel of land reclaimed from an equally large, exhausted clay mine in Thonnakkal has been sold to build a venue by TCS, India.

2.

An abandoned quarry (Iringal quarry) on the left bank of Kuttiyadi river in Kozhikode district has been transformed into an arts and crafts village-Sargalaya, a tourism destination, an initiative of the Department of Tourism, GOK. This is a classical example of reuse of an abandoned perennially water-logged rock quarry spread over 2.0-3.0 ha.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

1.9.

Success stories of innovative uses 1.

Currently, water accumulated and stored in a cluster of large abandoned quarries adjacent to Kochi Refineries Limited campus is used by the refinery to partially meet their needs.

2.

During water scarcity, the Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur meets part of its water requirement by ferrying tanker loads of water from a quarry to the East of the Medical College Campus.

3.

Some innovative brains in Kerala are raising ornamental/edible fish on a commercial scale in Palaghat district.

4.

Utilization of ponded water in the abandoned quarries for irrigating farmlands is successfully practiced in Palakkad and Wayanad districts.

5.

In Thonnakkal,

Thiruvananthapuram district, a company

operating a modern clay mine and a clay processing industry has been using one of their large mine pits to collect water, which is used repeatedly in their processing plants by recycling. 6.

Accumulated water in a large, exhausted china clay mine pit, in Mangalapuram, Thiruvananthapuram district, after treatment is supplied to a community of about 200 families.

7.

A perennially flooded, large abandoned (approx. 3.0 ha) quarry exists on the western side of NH-47 at Kalluvathukkal, Kollam district. It was considered earlier by the LSG concerned for conversion into a children’s water park with GOI’s funding. However, the project did not take off.

8.

The right of way of NH-49 at Mamala, sits perched on a “thin” rock wall (like on a natural rocky embankment) separating two vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

deep-abandoned-flooded-quarries (cluster of flooded quarries on the north and a single one on the southern side). An enterprising mind has chosen to run a mobile ice cream Kiosk at the road-side entrance to the fenced quarry making the first step to develop the spot into a picnic centre/road side rest area. 1.10. Additional recommendations 1.

Public awareness of state of abandoned/working quarries is practically nil. The SC therefore recommends conduct of an awareness

programme

for

elected

members

of

LSGs,

representatives of school-age youths, social activists, and nominees of NGOs (for course content and related details in Appendix-I). 2.

As part of educational tour of school-age youth, the SC desires inclusion of a quarry study with the help of the geologist of the revenue district concerned (details in Appendix-II).

3.

The SC recommends proceeds from the conduct of a Bumper Lottery to start a corpus (fund) for eco-restoration of quarried land. Given wide publicity and media coverage this lottery shall fetch a large profit of at least ` 20.0-30.0 crores. This fund may enable initiation of restoration works during this financial year (see Appendix-III).

4.

A WB/ADB loan for environmental rehabilitation of the quarried lands may be thought of (see Appendix-III).

5.

Introduce a new cess of 10% of royalty in force for quarry extracts (i.e., quarry products) to supplement the corpus of funds for restoration (see Appendix-III).

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

6.

A quarry advisory cell (Q-RAC), working from the office of the Director, Mining and Geology, is a team of experts to advise on matters relating to formulation of measures for quarry reuse shall be constituted. (see Appendix-IV)

7.

The quarry database available in the DMG is a good step towards e-governance policy. The SC opines that the data elements in the database have not addressed the theme in the angle of selecting or choosing the abandoned quarry sites for restorative work. Therefore, the SC recommends a revision of the data elements in the system in the line proposed in the data collection format designed by the SC. The details regarding staff requirements, financial outlay and other infrastructure like equipments and vehicles etc are given in Appendix-V.

8.

The SC underscores the need to launch a three year (three field season) programme to map the potential tracts in the land area of Kerala to demarcate the quarriable tracts, affording due consideration to environmental and social impacts to meet the future requirements of the infrastructure development in Kerala (see Appendix-VI).

9.

The SC is of the opinion that the website of DMG, as it stands today needs an overhaul especially in the context of knowledge society and e-governance (see Appendix-VII).

10.

Unlike many other arms of the GOK, the DMG is a scientific organization, in that the technical staff are scientists in the pursuit of scientific utilization and management of natural resources. The SC is of the unanimous view that a statutory scientific advisory board be created to advise the DMG to administer the non-renewable resources without impairing natural environmental fabric (see Appendix-VIII). vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

11.

A pilot project of reuse implemented in an abandoned quarry in poramboke land will showcase the abandoned quarry as an asset and not an eyesore. Such a project helps in motivating the society to switch over to alternative uses of these abandoned sites.

12.

One quarry in every district after restoration be designated as a student-field-lab for the sake of school going youth to study rock, minerals and other resources in the natural setting. ***************

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

CHAPTER - II A PROFILE OF QUARRYING IN KERALA Introduction Accidents and loss of life to adults, children, domestic and stray animals while negotiating the perimeters of abandoned quarries and mine pits that have proliferated across the state of Kerala have been of late, a source for sensational public and media attention, resulting in melancholic reactions among the society at large. This situation has prompted the GOK to appoint a subcommittee to look into the matter comprehensively, collecting the ground truth and

collating

the

inputs

into

a

meaningful

document

containing

recommendations for their re-use. The need for quarried materials (Like rock rubbles, road metal and aggregates) is immeasurable and keeps growing. Building stones and aggregates are the principal bulk besides steel in the construction and maintenance of all structures including railroads, highways, airports, harbors and so on. Consequently, quarrying has become an industry based on ever-rising demands and the spurt in the number of new quarries as well as the abandoned quarries is a direct fall- out of its adverse impacts which have to be addressed scientifically. In Kerala, there are reportedly 8000 to 10, 000 operating quarries for granite and Laterite (both legal and illegal) which cater to the domestic demands for building stones, road metal and aggregates. Moreover, the new constructions and developmental work that is in an infant stage demand huge inputs (billions of tons) of stones and aggregate, enhancing bulk requirements of the material manifold. Another set of pits needing a rehabilitation policy is the hundreds of abandoned brick/ tile clay pits in the paddy fields of the coastal stretch and flood plains of several rivers.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

There is a secondary consequence(s) of the abandoned quarries/pits such as partial or complete (either seasonal or perennial) flooding of the ex-quarries. An abandoned quarry and environs full of waste piles of unsold rubbles and rip-rap-a residual feature due to the absence of clear-cut exit formalities for quarrying operations of minor minerals is often a great eyesore. A tertiary consequence is the often reported drowning deaths of children, adults and animals in the stagnant pools of water in the pits. Thus, pools of rain water or ground water accumulating seasonally and in variable depths into the AQ & MP have more notorious (sic) attributes as ignoble sites of accidental drowning and deaths than positive benefits useable by the neighboring community. Hence, restoration of these degraded landscapes is absolutely essential. That no doubt, would create a better and healthier environment conserving biodiversity and would free the community from untoward incidents and hazards related to the AQ/MP. The Government of Kerala issued an order read as GO (Ms) No.57/2011/ID dated 25.2.2011 of the Industries (A) Department constituting a SubCommittee to undertake the study on re-use of abandoned pits/quarries. (Annexure-A). The terms of reference of the Committee were as follows: 1. How to restore the abandoned quarries/mines within the State. 2. To furnish suggestions regarding alternative uses of the abandoned quarries. 3. Recommendations/measures to be taken for ensuring the safety and security of the general public as also animals, if the abandoned pits cannot be used for any particular purpose. 4. To identify the Agency which can restore the abandoned pits. 5. Legal/legislative measures if any required. 6. Financial implications/ support needed for reclamation/re use.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

7. Restoration of quarrying pits has to be done in a phased manner giving priority to category of mines, are and danger to public. The Sub-Committee constituted by the GOK swung into deliberations immediately after receipt of this order and examined every aspect of possible restoration of the pits and quarries from within the ambit of the specified terms of reference. The Sub-Committee (the SC), made a general questionnaire to elicit information through the District officials of the Department of Mining and Geology, with the idea of short listing and prioritizing the abandoned pits and quarries which require restoration measures. The SC met officials of departments and organizations who deal with earth resource and eco systems management, such as the DMG, CGWB, GSI, the state GWD, the Kerala Land use Board, The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Biology, University of Kerala, and a few veteran professionals who had singular scientific experience in such fields. The SC formulated detailed questionnaires in English and Malayalam (Annexure-B&C) to reach out and to get suitable feedbacks from LSGs, NGOs and well informed civil society members. In addition, a press release was also issued (Annexure-D) to elicit views and suggestions from the public at large. With pleasure, the SC has synthesized all view points and suggestions and has arrived at solutions which are placed in this report as a cloister of futuristic ideas. Current Status The need for quarried construction materials (like rock and aggregates) is immeasurable and keeps growing. Besides steel, quarried rock and aggregates are the principal bulk in all modern constructions (as well as maintenance) like airports and harbours, rail roads and highways, industrial, commercial and residential blocks, power projects and drinking water supply schemes and so on. Consequently, quarrying is now an industry and the rising demand would add an extra spurt in the number of new quarries as well as abandoned quarries. vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Hence, the restoration of these degraded landscapes is intended to create a better and healthier environment, conserve biodiversity and prevent hazards affecting the community. State of the art of Quarrying The Kerala state is ecologically fragile with 16.4% of the total geographical area being coastal land, 28% of the geographical area being forest land, with 41 west flowing and 3 east flowing rivers, 27 estuaries, 7 lagoons, 580 Km of coastal belt, 4 to 6 months of monsoon rainfall, extensive ‘kole’ and wet land areas, and high density of population almost equally distributed all over the state. Quarrying and mining being a onetime concentrated activity may basically appear destructive with irreversible ecological fall outs and scars on the geoenvironment, but are unavoidable evils focused for the constructive upheaval of the population at large. The human civilization prospers on earth resources and their value-added products and the mining and quarrying activities if carried out sustainably, can be a boon for societal development convergence. Kerala is endowed with limited mineral resources and the major minerals mined are mainly china clay, mineral sand, bauxite/aluminous Laterite, limestone, lime shell and quartz/silica sand. These minerals are won by open cast mining to an average depth of 50m. Silica sand/Quartz and mineral sand are usually extracted by scooping and making small pits/trenches. Granite building stones and Laterite constitute the majority of minor minerals quarries of the State. Brick and tile clay pits which are mainly in the wet land are the other mining features. Quarrying activities for the above minerals have been rampant in the State from time immemorial. The increasing demands for construction of roads, railways, bridges, sea ports and air ports, sea walls, public and private buildings etc have progressively made the mining and quarrying industry flourish over vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

decades and proved its unavoidability and significant relevance in the transactions of the present day society. In today’s economic scenario, building materials, minerals and metals play a vital role. All these final products are derived basically from the mother earth, by quarrying from naturally occurring different rock formations. The need of the day is to mine these earth resources in an environment-friendly and sustained manner. Considering the environmental impacts, each step of the process will have to be examined in detail, as a preamble to any large scale projects. Equally important is to examine the reasons for cessation of the quarrying/ mining activity without addressing the adverse environmental impacts it has already created along with irreversible blot on the landscape. To highlight the state of the art in Kerala, it would be worthwhile to go through some paragraphs of the Report of the Technical Committee under the Chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to Government, Industries Department (September 2009) on Mining/ Quarrying Operations in Kerala with Special Focus on safety and Environmental Issues---etc. The points given in them are selfexplanatory, and the paragraphs are reproduced below: “Safety aspects of quarrying / mining operation in the State (p-6 of the Report) Kerala is endowed with limited mineral resources and hence the number of mines (major minerals) is limited and they are mainly china clay, mineral sand, bauxite/ aluminous Laterite, limestone, limeshell and quartz/ silica sand etc. These minerals are won by open cast mining to an average depth level of up to 50 m, especially in china clay and limestone mines. Silica sand/ Quartz, mineral sand are usually extracted by scooping and making small pits/ trenches and the mining doesn’t involve any threat to life and environment. No major accidents have been reported from these mining operations in the State.

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

Among the minor mineral quarries, granite building stones and the laterites are the most abundant in the state and quarrying activities are mostly carried out in the mid land area of the state. The quarrying activities for the above minerals are being carried out far before the formation of the State of Kerala for construction of railways, bridges, roads, sea wall and other public and private buildings and even from Palaeolithic age. The increase in population and due to the big boom in construction industry in recent years, there is a high demand of minerals especially for granite/ Laterite building stone, construction grade sand and brick/ tile clay. But the spatial extension of mineral deposit is being reduced day by day due to fast urbanization and formation of new roads. Accidents in Quarries In Kerala accidents in mining sector is very less when compared to the other parts of the country. Two or three cases are being reported annually. The intensity of quarry/ mining accidents

when compared with road accidents, natural

calamities, epidemics and death associated with riots and violence are negligible but still safety of mine/ quarry needs to be given prime importance. Nature of quarry accidents Quarry accidents can be grouped into two main categories: 1.

Accidents to the workers involved in quarrying operations.

2.

Accidents to the public, animals etc., due to falling into the active or abandoned mine/quarry pits.”

The Physical System Out of a total area of 38864 sq.km of the State, 35955 sq. km is covered by hard rock which comes under the industrial classification of ‘Granite’. All the physiographic regions of the State are also dominated by these rocks. The state is situated in the southwestern fringe of the south Indian Peninsular Shield vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

between latitudes 080 15’ and 120 45’ N and longitudes 740 50’ and 770 20’ E. The State can broadly be divided into three physiographic units from the coastline on the west to the Ghats in the east-the coastal plains with an average elevation of 10 m above m.s.l, the midlands which are the pediments of the mountains with an average elevation of 300 m and the high lands of the western Ghats with hill ranges and plateaus rising to heights of 600 to 2500m above m.s.l, in the eastern parts (Plate-1). The Wayanad plateau and Munnar upland fall in the high lands. The midlands are mostly covered by Laterite cappings and thick and weathered pedogenic profiles. ‘Granites’ (in Geological parlance Khondalites (including leptynites), charnockites, charnockite gneiss, migmatites, granites and granite gneiss) outcrop on the hill ranges, peaks in the pediments and the coastal uplands. Apart from these, there are coastal sedimentary formations comprising clastic rocks like clays and sandstones and marine carbonates (at some places with thin seams of lignite) and impure clastics. The youngest of the sedimentary formations is composed of sands, clays, molluscan shell beds, riverine and beach alluvium. (Plate-2). Climate Kerala has a typical hot, humid tropical climate with clear spells of excessively wet monsoon seasons. (SW and NE Monsoons) .The SW monsoons are stronger in the central and northern parts of the State and the NE monsoons or the retreating monsoons are relatively stronger in the southern parts of the State. The rainy seasons are active during June to September and November to February. The average annual rainfall in the State is 3000 mm with about 115 wet days on an average. The mean daily temperature is 32˚ C. Structure and Seismicity Kerala falls under seismic zone III, where seismic activity could be moderate to the tune of 5 to 6 magnitude in Richter scale and 6.5 in exceptional cases along neotectonically active deep faults. According to lineament maps of Kerala, the ENE-WSW trending lineament zones are chronologically the youngest and are vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011

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Report of the Sub-Committee on Reuse of Abandoned Quarries and Mine Pits

vulnerable for seismicity. Lineaments along with joints, fractures and foliation have exercised considerable control over the weathering profile, course of river channels and the size and extent of aquifer qualities of this terrain. Groundwater Occurrence In the geological formations of Kerala, groundwater occurs under water table (unconfined), semi confined and confined conditions. The weathered hard rock’s (thickness= ~10.0 m), laterites (of variable thickness), valley fills (thickness=~3.0- 7.0 m) and alluvial formations form the major unconfined aquifers and fracture zones in the hard rocks and granular zones in the sedimentary formations form the semi confined to confined aquifers. Depth to water level varies from 2.0 to 9.0 m below ground level in weathered hard rock, 2.0 to 20.0 m below ground level in laterite and 2.0m)

36h.Shallow (500 m

PART II [This section addresses the socio-cultural aspects. Check/circle your response or write in your comment]

Socio-cultural setting: Distance from School/s: 500.0 m Distance from Town/village centre: 500 m Distance from a place of worship: 500 m Distance from Public road: 500 m

Physical Setting of Quarry site Location-Administrative a. Panchayath and division/ward: b. Type of Quarry Land Title: Public / Puramboke / Janmam / Lease

2

Location-Physical c. On sheet rock: Thin or no soil covered nearly flat rocky rolling land On Hill / ridge slope: d. Facing a valley linked by a quarry road to a two way road by e. Alongside and directly facing a two way road f. Stream/s emptying into quarry/pit g. Stream/s blocked by quarry spoil dump Soil Overburden a. Thickness of soil overburden noticed on quarry wall: 50 cm / 51-100 cm / 101-200 cm/ > 201 cm b. Soil type: In situ / transported c. Soil category: Lateritic / sandy soil / red sandy loam/ clayey loam / other specify Quarry Metrices Quarry Floor Elevation, amsl: Quarry lip (top) elevation, amsl: Approximate Dimensions in m: Depth-

Width-

Length-

Overall appearance a. Wide and shallow pit with low angle rocky walls & access road descending in b. Deep and narrow pit with high angle rocky walls & access road descending in: c. Steep cut on hill slope with active floor deep and down below d. Steep cut on hill slope with active face on the quarry wall. Current State of quarry/pit e. Water logged: yes / no; If yes, Duration/period: >4 months of yr 75 m of the Quarry: rise / fall / turned dry State of surface water State of stream/s: Ephemeral / perennial Stream Order in and around quarry: Are stream/s eliminated by quarry/spoil dump: Visual Impacts:

4

Possible Environmental Impacts:

Potential for Pollution:

PART IV Reasons for abandoning of quarrying a. Non-availability of rock desired quality and quantity b. Operational problems due to increasing depth c. Water logging of operational area d. Others (write in) :

Chronicle of abandoned Quarry related accidents A.Rock/debris fall: year/s ; Life/s lost-

; Disabled life/s:

b. Debris slump: Year/s-

; Disabled life/s:

c. Drowning: Yea/s-

; Life/s lost;Life/s lost-

; Disabled life/s:

PART V We also request you (the respondent) to choose from the following list one or more method/s of reuse of abandoned quarries/mine pits or write in your suggestions. Suggested Reuse Strategy/Process (Check / circle your prioritized choices or write in your option not in the list) a. Rain Water harvesting b. Pisciculture c. Horticulture d. Horticultural Nurseries e. Play grounds / parks / water sports f. Housing colony g. Bus terminal

5

h. Truck terminal i. Mini shopping malls and community halls j. Cinema halls k. l. m. n.

PART VI [A number of quarries (operating or abandoned) are in the patta land. Seemingly the Departments of GOK might find it difficult to implement interventions in private land enabling re-use. Here respondent may writein possible means of implementing the reuse measures in such abandoned quarry land.] Some proposals (you may circle one or more or write in your view): a. LSG to acquire the land for any post exit use.

b. Create a State land bank by legislation

c. Create co-operative societies for value added re-use

d. Any other:

[We the members of the SC express our sincere gratitude for your cooperation in this mission and also for providing your input based on your concerns and care in respect of formulating feasible solutions for such community issues. Committee can be contacted in any one of the following addresses: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected] or

[email protected] or [email protected]]

6