EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Of

Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment

For

PPoowweerr PPllaanntt –– 1166 MMWW ((22 xx 88 MMWW))

At

NIRMA LIMITED (Healthcare Division)

Survey Nos. 403, 405, 406, 407 and 414,

Village: Sachana, Taluka: Viramgam, District: Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION M/s. Nirma Limited is a Rs. 5000 crores diversified multi product industrial group,

engaged in manufacture and marketing of Soap, Detergents, Chemicals &

Healthcare Products. M/s. Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division) proposes to install coal/lignite based captive

power plant of 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) capacity along with 40 TPH x 2 nos. AFBC Boilers one

after another within existing premises located at Village: Sachana, Taluka: Viramgam,

District: Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The proposed project requires Environmental Clearance as this project falls under

Category “B” of Project Activity No. 1(d) as per the EIA Notification dated 14th

September 2006. For this the industry is required to submit a Rapid Environmental

Impact Assessment Study Report and to carry out public hearing. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study is carried out in the summer season of

year 2011. The environmental parameters (ambient air, water, land, noise, flora, fauna

and socio-economic environment) selected for study are those, which are likely to be

most affected by the project. The study area is defined as area within 10 Km radius

from centre of the site. Proposed power plant is to be set up on an open land area of 23,020.23 m2 consisting

approximately 17,145.54 m2 of green belt area. Total estimated cost of the proposed

project is approximately Rs. 60 Crores. Total budget allocation towards Environmental

Management Facilities/ System will be Rs. 5 Crores. Approximately 47 persons will be

employed including skilled labours, unskilled labours and office staff.

AIR ENVIRONMENT The base-line Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) status within 10 Km study area has been

assessed through a monitoring network of 13 AAQ sampling stations during summer

season. Design of network for Ambient Air Quality monitoring locations were decided

on meteorology & available infrastructure facilities. The base-line Ambient Air Quality

of the study area was monitored for PM2.5, PM10, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Oxides of

Nitrogen (NOx). The results for the same are given as below:

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) ii

Location 98th Percentile g/m3

PM2.5 PM10 SO2 NOx

Nirma Limited – Nr. ETP 45.60 100.93 22.57 18.79

Village: Sachana 63.14 170.09 23.33 22.26

Village: Jakhawada 48.40 143.89 22.32 12.46

Village: Sokali 31.29 96.40 22.36 13.90

Village: Kalyanpur (Shiyal) 31.03 88.54 23.37 16.07

Village: Virochannagar 43.87 157.88 15.09 8.07

Village: Kalyanpura 38.24 158.20 29.63 15.16

Village: Della 32.65 105.48 25.26 17.18

Village: Palli 58.57 155.37 29.50 16.70

Village: Moti Kumad 29.54 119.67 25.22 18.53

Village: Karkathal 47.29 124.00 24.46 40.05

Village: Khoraj 32.97 140.72 26.14 19.32

Village: Dodar 43.83 135.85 28.87 20.17

Permissible limit [NAAQ standards-2009]

60 100 80 80

WATER ENVIRONMENT Analysis of ground water samples revealed that the ground water quality in the area

meets the Water Quality Standards (IS: 10500) for drinking water except Total

Dissolved Solids and Magnesium Hardness at one place.

Water Requirement

The total water requirement for the proposed CPP will be @ 1305 KL/day

including domestic and industrial. From this said quantity of fresh water 5

m3/day will be used for domestic purpose and 1300 m 3/day will be used for

industrial activities. The water requirement will be satisfied through ground

water source. The unit has already obtained permission from CGWA, New

Delhi for the abstraction of ground water from existing bore well. The water

required for the boiler shall be demineralized; hence the water treatment

plant shall be installed.

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) iii

Wastewater Generation

The total industrial effluent generation from proposed CPP will be 200

KL/day, which will be from the water treatment facil ity, boiler blow down

and cooling tower purge. The entire waste water will be treated in existing

effluent treatment plant comprising of primary, secondary & tertiary

treatment facil ities (some modifications will be made to cater the

additional effluent quantity).

The total generation of domestic effluent will be @ 4 KL/day from the

proposed power plant.

Disposal of Effluent

The treated wastewater from ETP will be reused for the gardening/

plantation / dust suppression purposes after confirming GPCB norms within

the plant premises. Domestic wastewater generated from the proposed CPP will be treated

along with industrial effluent in the existing Effluent Treatment Plant.

LAND / SOIL ENVIRONMENT Construction Phase

Excavation and construction material waste disposal are inert in nature and

will be collected and util ized in fill ing of low lying areas within the premises

of proposed plant and road construction at the site. Thus, the adverse impacts are restricted to the proposed project site and to

some extent it’s surroundings.

Operational Phase

During operation activity the impact of air, water and solid waste pollution

on soil causes direct / indirect effect on soil. As all necessary air pollution control steps will be provided and based on

the results of the dispersion model for the Ground Level Concentrations of

various pollutants after commissioning of the proposed project, there will

not be any adverse impact of air pollution on soil.

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) iv

It may be noted that there will be no disposal of untreated effluent on land.

Treated effluent, after achieving GPCB norms, will be used for

gardening/plantation/dust suppression. So there will be no adverse effect

on land / soil due to water. All necessary control steps will be provided for handling, storage and

disposal of solid waste generated from the plant. Thus, there will not be any

significant impact of solid waste on the soil environment.

NOISE ENVIRONMENT Noise level was recorded at thirteen locations within the study area to provide

the baseline data to describe the existing situations.

Sr. No. Location of monitoring station Noise level (dB)

Day Time Night Time

1 Project Site (Nr. ETP) 54 52

2 Village : Sachana 62 64

3 Village : Jakhawada 48 49

4 Village : Sokali 50 47

5 Village : Siyal 48 45

6 Village : Virochannagar 45 45

7 Village : Kalyanpura 49 48

8 Village : Della 50 48

9 Village : Palli 47 46

10 Village : Moti Kumad 49 47

11 Village : Karkathal 45 43

12 Village : Khoraj 48 46

13 Village : Dodar 51 48

Permissible limit [NAAQ standards-2009

55 45

SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT An assessment of Socio-economic environment forms an integral part of an EIA

study. Socio-economic Environment – Demographic & related Socio-economic

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) v

data was collected from District Census Handbook to assess Socio-economic

status of the study area. The proposed CPP will generate permanent employment and secondary jobs

for about 47 persons. This will increase the direct/indirect employment

opportunities to some extent.

Local people will be given preference wherever found suitable for all the jobs

in the plant, direct as well as indirect. Economic status of the local people will

improve due to the increased business opportunities, thereby, making a

positive impact. Educational, medical and housing facil ities in the study area

will considerably improve. Thus, the proposed project will have significant positive impact on the

employment pattern of the study area.

ECOLOGY & BIODIVERSITY The baseline biological survey, for the evaluation of the floral and faunal

biodiversity of the terrestrial environment within 10 km from the proposed

project site located Sachana village, Ahmedabad District was conducted

during June, 2011.

Topography of the study area is characterized by dominating plain area dominated

by agriculture land. Thol Bird Sanctuary is in the east direction of the project site

at approx. 21.63 km away. The tree cover in this locality restricted mainly to

agriculture hedges and road side plantation. The dominant tree species in and along

the hedges of the agriculture lands are dominated by Salvadora olivoides (Pilludi),

Prosopis cineraria (Khyigdo) and Azadirachta indica (Neem). Few places in the study

area was characterised by the dense vegetation cover with Acacia nilotica, Balanites

aegyptiaca, and Prosopis Juliflora. Few of these scrub land harbour a good

population of Nilgai.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN An Environmental Management Plan has been prepared for mitigation of the

adverse impacts.

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) vi

The Environmental Management Plan describes in brief, the management’s

plan for proper and adequate implementation of treatment and control

system for pollutants and for maintaining the environment. It also includes

development of green belt, proper safety of workers, environmental

monitoring plan, rain water harvesting, fire protection system and measures

etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN The adverse environmental impacts identified during the Environmental

Impact Assessment process of the proposed power plant may increase during

the construction as well as operation phase. Monitoring of environmental

factors and constraints will enable us to identify the changes in the

environmental impacts at various locations and their mitigative measures. To

ensure the effective implementation of the EMP, monitoring of ambient air

quality, stack emissions, analysis & monitoring of water environment and noise

level will be carried out as required / specified by statutory authority.

GREEN BELT DEVELOPMENT PLAN A greenbelt of approximately 17, 145.54 m2 will be developed in and around the

proposed project site to minimize the air pollution, noise pollution, balancing

eco-environment, soil erosion / protection etc. Greenbelt area will be 74.5 % of

the total plot area.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING Rainwater harvesting system is already provided within the premises as per the

CGWA approval.

CONCLUSION The study brings out the following points. No ecological damage will occur.

Negligible impacts will occur on air quality. However, all the necessary air

pollution control measures will be provided. No adverse impacts will occur on water environment.

Executive Summary for 16 MW (2 X 8 MW) Coal / Lignite Based CPP

Project Proponent: Nirma Limited (Healthcare Division)

Consultant: Anand Consultants (ISO 9001:2008 Certified) vii

Local employment opportunities will increase. Various other environmental parameters l ike Forest / National Park /

Sanctuary and Religious / Historical Places will not be affected. Environmental Management Plan has been formulated to control all the

pollutant parameters and Environmental Management Cell has been set-

up to ensure that these parameters do not exceed the norms set out by the

concerned authorities. After commissioning of the proposed project the Environmental

Management Cell will take care of all the pollution control measures.

Thus, it can be concluded on a positive note that after the implementation of

the mitigation measures and Environment Management Plan the normal

operation of power plant will have overall negligible impact on environment

and will benefit the local people.