GRANITE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT RULES, 1999

CHAPTER VI

SYSTEMATIC AND SCIENTIFIC MINING

29. Protection of environment.- Every holder of a prospecting licence or a lease shall take all possible precautions for the protection of environment and control of pollution while conducting prospecting, mining or processing of granite in the area for which such licence or lease is granted.

30. Removal and utilisation of top soil.- (1) Where top soil exists and is to be excavated for prospecting or mining operations for granite, it should be removed separately.

(2) The top soil so removed shall be utilised for restoration and rehabilitation of the land which is no longer required for prospecting or mining operations or for stabilising or landscaping the external dumps.

(3) Where top soil cannot be used concurrently, it shall be stored separately for future use.

31. Storage of overburden, waste rock etc.- (1) The overburden, waste rock and non-saleable granite generated during prospecting or mining operations for granite shall be stored separately in properly formed dumps on grounds earmarked.

(2) Such dumps shall be properly secured to prevent the escape of material in harmful quantities which may cause degradation of the surrounding land or silting of water courses.

(3) Wherever possible, such waste rock or overburden or other rejects, shall be backfilled into the worked out granite quarry, where granite has been recovered upto the optimum depth, with a view to restore the land to its original use or desired alternate use, as far as possible and where the backfilling is not feasible, the waste dumps shall be suitable terraced and stabilised by planting vegetation or otherwise.

32. Reclamation and Rehabilitation of lands.- Every lease holder shall undertake in a phased manner restoration, reclamation and rehabilitation of lands affected by prospecting or mining operations and shall complete this work before the conclusion of such operations and the abandonment of the granite quarry.

33. Precaution against air pollution.- Air pollution due to dust, exhaust emissions or fumes during prospecting, mining or processing operations for granite and related activities shall be controlled and kept within permissible limits specified under any environmental laws for the time being in force.

34. Discharge of effluents.- Every holder of a prospecting licence or a lease shall take all possible precautions to prevent or reduce to a minimum the discharge of toxic and objectionable liquid effluents from granite quarry, workshop or processing plant, into surface or ground water bodies, and usable lands. These effluents shall conform to the standards laid down in this regard.

35. Precaution against noise.- Noise arising out of prospecting, mining and processing operations for granite shall be abated or controlled by the holder of prospecting licence or a lease at the source so as to keep it within the permissible limit.

36. Permissible limits and standards.- The standards and permissible limits of all pollutants, toxins and noise referred to in rule 33, 34 and 35 shall be those notified by the concerned authorities under the provisions of the relevant statutes from time to time.

37. Restoration of flora.- Every lease holder shall take immediate measures for planting in the area held under the lease or any other area selected by the State Government for this purpose, such number of trees sufficient to improve the environment and to minimise effects of land degradation during the entire period of such lease. He shall look after such tree plantations during the subsistence of the lease.