report quarry

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

http://www.kvisoft.com/pdf-merger/

i

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, co-

operation 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.

ii

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

iii

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, Thiruvananthapuram-

695 004

iv

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crustacean

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_plant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permeable_rock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_lines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_matter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen

v

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 in-

place 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


vi

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-pit_mining

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrology


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater

vii

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

***************

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 37

CH.-IV: SUMMARY 58

APPENDICES

I. Know Your Quarry- A Course Outline

II. Quarry Study Tour

III. “Green” Fund for reuse treatment of quarries

IV. Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell, Q-RAC

V. Quarry Data Cell, Q-DAC

VI. Inventorying of Quarriable Tracts in Kerala

VII. Redesign DMG Website with Additional Content

VIII. Scientific Advisory Board

IX. Quarry Enumeration Sheet (Draft)

X. Press Release and Responses

XI. Questionnaire on reuse of abandoned quarries

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

vide GO (MS) No. 57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011 1

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.



1.1. Current Status of Quarries and Quarrying

1. The state has a very large number of quarries, a staggering 8,000-

10,000 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.



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)

2. Pre-

Treatment

a. Physical treatment like stabilization of shoulders/rims;

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)

3. Reuse

measures

a. Water reservoir (drinking/irrigation/water sports)

b. Aquaculture site (e.g. Pisciculture etc.)

c. Artificial aquifer

d. Vegetative greening of quarry-walls

e. GW recharge source



Specifics of Recommendations: U-Shaped Deep Quarry

a. Water

reservoir

Drinking water source with/without treatment.

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

Suitably refilling a small quarry in areas of severe drinking

water scarcity to create an artificial aquifer.

d. Vegetative

greening of

quarry-walls

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).

e. GW recharge

source Water siphoned off to recharge-pits,-wells and –ponds.

Summary of Recommendations: U-Shaped Shallow Quarry

B. Shallow Quarry (Possible Reuse measures)

4. Reuse

measures

a. Aquaculture

b. Pisciculture

c. Composting site

d. Fruit crops

e. Vegetable and tubers



Specifics of Recommendations: Shallow Quarry

Shallow quarries (Reuse measures)

a. Aquaculture Cultivation of aquatic flowering plants, like lotus and water

lilies

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

Catla, Rohu)

c. Composting site Aerobic composting of biodegradable waste of neighbouring

community

d. Fruit Crops Banana, Gooseberry, Pineapple, Papaya

e. Vegetable &

Tubers

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

Potato (Madhura Kizhangu)

Recommendations: Rogue Quarry

“Rogue”

Amenable only to rim/shoulder stabilization by hydro-seeding,

geo-textiles carpeting and planting tree species.

Erecting (1) protective metallic barricade around the rim (2)

hazard warning signs and (3) depth charts



I.2.1-B: RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: L-SHAPED ROCK QUARRY

Summary of Recommendations

1. Type of

Quarry L-shaped quarry

2. Pre-

Treatment

Physical treatment, i.e., stabilization of shoulders/rims; easing of

head of slopes, rough leveling of quarry floor, developing/managing

of lower order channels and preservation of water reservoir in

quarry.

3. Reuse

measures

i. Quarry

floor

a. Plant nurseries

b. Forage farm

c. Silvopasture

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



Specifics of Recommendations: Quarry Floor

a. Plant nurseries Composite nurseries of multi-purpose trees, fruit, vegetable

crops, medicinal plants and forage.

b. Forage cultivation Grass species viz., Guinea, fodder trees, Subabul, Gliricidia,

green manure crops dhainja, sun hemp

c. Silvopasture Planting of bamboo, Casurina and fodder grass

d. Composting yard Aerobic composting site; waste supplied by neighbouring

communities

e. Mini-biogas plant

site Feedstock is aerobic compost

f. Mini-livestock

farms

E.g., dairy, poultry etc. as a community livelihood support

system

g. Mini-piggeries Seclusion of site qualifies for pig farming

h. Mini-solar electric

farms

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

on southerly facing quarry walls

i. Crematoria Ideal site for locating modern community crematoria

j. Roadside rest area Vehicle (minor) repair and parking; cafeteria, shops,

restrooms, children’s park etc for motorists

k. Education site 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

shoulder

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

followed by planting tree species



I.2.2-A: RECOMMENDED REUSE OPTIONS: LATERITE BRICK AND RED

EARTH PITS

1. Type of Quarry Shelf (L-shaped) and Pit (Box-shaped) (no minimum area

stipulation as per Minor Mineral rules.)

2.

Pre-Treatment: rim

and shoulder

a. Protective green fencing, and warning signs and

crash barriers (if wall abuts on edge of right of way

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

3. Reuse measures: floor

a. Garden land (Cashew, tuber crops, yams etc.)

b. Real estate

c. Amphitheaters and open-air theaters

4.

Water storage &

conservation

structure

Recharge pit with recharge bores.

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.



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)

2. Pre-Treatment

Topsoil of undisturbed patches in the ela

gathered and stored.

Uneven ela-scape remade as levelled and

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

2. Pre-Treatment a. If water-logged, fencing and water-hazard

warnings along with display of depth charts

3. Reuse measures

a. Pisciculture of edible and ornamental fish

b. Farming sites of aquatic plants (e.g., lotus, water

lily)

c. Source of irrigation water and domestic use after

treatment.



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

2. Pre-Treatment

Protective fencing, and warning signs

Depth charting

Re-vegetation of rim and edge (e.g., vetiver, lemon

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

3. Reuse measures

Pisciculture: Edible and ornamental fish

Cultivation of aquatic flowering plants like lotus, water

lily

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.



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



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



indirectly involved in quarrying as an end user or societal-well-

wisher, 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.



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.



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.

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.

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



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-land-

owner, 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.



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



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).



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).



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.

***************



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 sub-

committee 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.



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 Sub-

Committee 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.



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.



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 geo-

environment, 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



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 self-

explanatory, 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.



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



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



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 <1.0 to 6.0 m below ground

level in valley fill and coastal alluvium.

In spite of the reputation as a water surplus state, the state experiences

drinking water scarcity at many places due to a variety of reasons. The highly

dissected and undulating topography, high subsurface runoff, massiveness of

geological formations and the resultant unfavourable sub-surface storage

conditions, are the factors responsible for shortage of water in summer season.

Quality problems due to saline water incursions along rivers and backwaters,

toxic and biogenic contaminations from anthropogenic wastes and putrescible

matter in coastal and inland backwater aquifers etc further leads to the scarcity

of drinking water.

Need for Quarrying & Mining

Quarrying is as old as civilizations are. In today’s world, there is absolute need

for building materials, metals and minerals. All those final products are derived

basically from minerals, which are extracted from quarries or mined from

subsurface and surface mines from different rock formations found in nature.

Therefore, the need is to mine these minerals in the most optimum way.



Considering the environmental impacts, the process has to be examined in

detail before any large scale mining projects have to be considered.

Reasons for abandoning/ orphaning of quarries

The following are the reasons for abandoning of quarrying activities in a

particular area:

1. The expiry of the lease period and the lessee not opting renewal due to

(a) the exhaustion of the deposits, (b) reaching the stage where

quarrying is uneconomical due to rise in wages and other inputs, fall in

market demand of the extracts

2. Unscientific working methods exposing the quarry workers to accidents

and injuries

3. Court directives banning the quarrying operations on public safety or

environmental concerns and

4. Personal reasons of the lessee to stop the operations.

Development Initiatives

The construction materials used in Kerala state are principally granite rock

(stone and coarse and fine aggregates) and laterite (bricks and road metal). So

many development projects are in the offing in Kerala like multi-lane-highways,

bridges, state highways ports (e.g., Vizhinjam), Metro-rail systems (e.g., Kochi),

air port (e.g., Kannur) and so on. While all these concrete based constructions

consume huge volumes of coarse and fine aggregates, the larger sized granite

stones go to making of breakwaters in ports and harbours and seawalls along

stretches facing coastal erosion. The housing sector growing at 10-15% is

another principal consumer of coarse and fine aggregates. All such stone

construction materials are sourced from quarries that are spread all over the

state, especially in the midland and lower highland.



Governance of Quarrying in Kerala

In Kerala, quarrying and mining of minerals are regulated by the powers

vested under the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957,

Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules,

1967 and the Granite conservation and development Rules, 1999. The

Department of Mining and Geology is empowered to administer the said rules

in the State.

However, certain Officers/authorities in other departments/local bodies such

as Revenue, Panchayat, Forest and Municipal Administration have also been

declared as Competent Authorities by the Government to administer the rules

specifying the area of jurisdiction, extent of powers to be exercised and the

duties to be performed by them in each case.

Due to the lack of co-ordination among the competent authorities the

Department of Mining and Geology may not be able to administer the said rules

effectively which may lead to loss of revenue for the State and orphaning of

quarries and mines. Currently, the Mineral Exploration Division and the

Mineral Development and Mining Lease Division of the DMG administer the

mineral development in Kerala.



Classification of Quarries

Classification of quarries based on the products, as well as by their overall

shape

No Type Field geometry Type of Extract

1. L-shaped L-shaped Rock /rubble

2. U-shaped U-shaped; a deeper pit Rock /rubble

3. Composite U-in-L Rock /rubble

4. Box shaped

Walled shallow Box ; walls of

variable height; flat or stepped

floor;

Laterite brick/red earth;

brick and tile clays

5. China clay

pits/mines

Large geometric pits or L-shaped

cuttings with benches/steps

stepped

China clay

(under MMRD Act, 1967)

Environmental Impacts of Quarrying

Quarrying is one of the most primitive but important activities that continues to

support human civilization. Construction of buildings, infrastructure

development, and a host of other activities affecting our day-to-day life are

largely dependent on the products from the stone quarries and mine pits.

Kerala with its undulating topography has an abundance of quarries in the

midland, lower highland and mid-highland regions. ‘Sheet rock’ morphology

and isolated domes in the midland / lower highland pediment and ridge and

valley structure alternating in the mid-highland regions support a large number

of quarries all through the length of the state. Quarrying activity and the

presence of abandoned quarries have created numerous complex problems

directly and indirectly affecting the psyche of the civil society The adverse

impacts at times reach catastrophic proportions resulting in landslides, land

slumps, tip-slides, debris slides and rock topples in the quarry/ pit vicinities,

leading to casualty and fatality. Adults, youngsters, children, cattle are all

affected.



The dominant environmental problems associated with quarrying are:

Land degradation

Deforestation and loss of vegetation

Water pollution

Air pollution

Noise pollution

Depletion or loss of groundwater

Socio-economic problems caused by any one or all of the above.

On environmental issues, the TCCPSG (2009) commented as follows:

“4. Environmental issues – (P-9)

The mining activity without the destruction of environment and ecological

imbalance are not practicable. To sustain economy of the country extraction of

natural wealth and technology to exploit the mineral resources with modern tools

are inevitable and there is legislation to control the degradation of environment.

The opening of mining industry provides job opportunity for many people

including the local tribes which in turn develop the area and the State economy

also flourishes. Gain in economy and loss in ecological balance are to be weighed

with positive attitude for betterment of the state.”

The abandoned quarries and mine pits no doubt, are primarily indelible

eyesores and scars on the otherwise pristine landscape and greenery of the

state. During recent years, there has been a growing awareness on the part of

the administration and civil society on the importance and need for protection

and conservation of the environment. There is also a widening realization

among all concerned that developmental activities though inevitable, have to be

executed in a sustained way without adverse impacts on environment and eco

system. Hence the urgent need to embark on a massive programme on a war-

footing for the restoration of abandoned quarries and mine pits to minimize

hazardous impacts directly and indirectly affecting the populace dwelling in



their close proximity and to make these locations abodes of positive outputs

beneficial to the society.

Environmental problems of Quarrying

Stone Quarries

Quarries for building stones are the most widespread, and are generally located

in the midland and mid high land regions of the state. The main impact of

quarrying is on the landscape resulting in its gross unaesthetic disfiguration.

The removal of some of the landscape components such as trees, other

vegetation and slope could lead to a cascading effect on the surrounding

landscape. Quarrying can lead to soil erosion, land slump, debris flow and

slumping of talus, scree and quarry waste towards lower slopes. The main

negative ecological and biological effect is the loss of habitat and species and

dwindling of bio diversity that inhabited the area. In effect, a link in the

ecosystem chain is chopped off and the entire bio diversity of the area is

subjected to irreversible damage. When the operations go below the ground

level, the result is impeded natural drainage. Blasting is another prime activity

in quarries used to break and detach massive rock into smaller fragments. This

involves the use of heavy machinery and explosives which affect the immediate

environs in more than one way. The noise and vibrations of the blasts can be

annoying and repulsive to those dwelling in the vicinity. Blasts also produce a

lot of dust and fumes causing pollution. Irregular blasting may open up more

rock fractures resulting in hanging of boulders and their precarious perching,

haphazard landing of rubbles and scree on steep slopes, thereby leading to

dangerous situations of rock topple and debris movement.

Laterite Bricks and Red Earth Pits (Box- and L-shaped)

Laterite quarries dominate the midland and mid-highland regions of the State.

Quarrying is carried out below the ground surface and hence leaves shallow

pits in the landscape. Loss of vegetation and fertile top soil are other effects.



Land damage and disfiguration of the landscape are the major problems. The

overburden soil causes erosion and deposition of material to lower landscape

positions. During monsoon the pits are filled up with water and cause hazards

of drowning to human and cattle.

Brick and Tile Clay Pits (Box-shaped)

These are often located in the lower landscape depressions especially the

paddy fields. The main impact is the loss of fertile top soil and impeded

drainage. The resulting deep pits get filled up with water as the water table in

these areas is only a few meters below the surface. The overburden soil is

unstable and act as source of pollution of air, water, loss of aesthetics. There

can also be direct removal of habitat or habitats altered or destroyed by excess

dust, water runoff and soil erosion.

China Clay Mines

Mine development for clays involve removal of top soil and results in the

formation of depressions and craters. These are often very deep pits filled with

water. Depletion of water table in wells of adjoining areas is widespread. The

water-filled pits prove to be focal points of hazards to human beings and cattle.

The overburdens in these areas are physically unstable and are prone to creep

and slump. They also act as sources of pollution with washings seeping down

slope to lover levels in the landscape. The major effects are the destruction of

original habitat, pollution of air and water, siltation and loss of aesthetics.

However, abandoned china clay mines in the state portray an altogether

different picture, primarily because of the scale of operations and limited

occurrence of the clay deposits. Being governed by the rules for mining of major

minerals, the china clay mining has all along been a more organized and better

governed process than quarrying of building stones or Laterite which are

grouped under minor minerals. China clay mines operated in the northern and

southern districts of the state are either Ls pits or Us pits and unlike stone



quarries, a fair amount of post-mining reclamation measures are seen

implemented by the respective operators. A good example is near Thonnakkal

in Thiruvananthapuram District, a company operating a modern clay mine and

a clay processing and upgradation industry has been progressively back-filling

the mined pits and using some of the pits as rain water harvesting centers, and

pits for recycling of used water for reuse. Another point that needs mention is

that one of the refilled pits of about 10ha here, partly re-vegetated by the miner

has been purchased by an Indian software company of repute, to develop their

campus. Progressive back-filling of the mined pits are noticed in the china clay

mine sites at Pazhayangadi in Kannur District also. In the Mangalapuram china

clay mine belt in Thiruvananthapuram District, instances of leasing out

reclaimed land to other industry operators and supplying of the rainwater

accumulated in the mine pits after treatment to neighbouring settlements are

also noticed.

The Rules in administration of Quarrying

The MM (D&R) Act 1957 and rules there under govern the administration of the

major minerals in the country. As far as Kerala is concerned, chiefly china clay,

bauxite, limestone, iron ore and silica sand come under the purview of the rule.

Quarrying, on the other hand, is governed by The Kerala Minor Mineral

Concession Rules, 1967. However, unlike the case of major minerals, the lessee

is not legally bound to restore the quarried land with the top soil in place. Yet,

the rules governing extraction of brick and tile clays and sand (karamanal)

warrant restoration of the landscape by the operator for which a bank

guarantee of ` 275 per m3 is submitted. Mining of certain minerals (Scheduled

Minerals) require the concurrence of the Govt. of India (Ministry of Mines, Dept.

of Mines).

Section 15(1) Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) act has

empowered the State Government to frame rules in respect of minor minerals

for regulating the grant of quarrying leases or other mineral concessions and

Section 23 C has delegated the power to make rules for preventing illegal



mining, transportation and storage of minerals. Kerala Minor Mineral

Concession Rules 1967 has been framed by the State Government as per

Section 15 (1) of Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Act, 1957

for regulation of minor minerals like granite building stone, laterite, Tile/ Brick

clay and ordinary sand used for construction purposes etc.

Whenever a mining lease is granted, the incumbent lessee has to execute a lease

deed in which conditions for mining the mineral in a work-man like (Form K)

manner are specified. However, there is no proper check to ensure that the

lessee is carrying out mining in accordance with the provisions of the Mines

Act, 1952 and Metalliferous Regulations (MMR) 1967. This is probably due to

the fact that at present, there is shortage of staff in the department mandated to

carry out periodic inspections to this effect. However, the Directorate of Mine

safety under the Indian Bureau of Mines, Govt. of India carries out yearly site

inspections and points out violations to these Acts (Mineral Conservation and

Development Rules) directing the lessee to comply with the remedial measures.

Even then there is no mechanism to ensure if these directives are being

complied with, by the lessee. Paucity of a state unit of the Directorate is the

main drawback in following-up the rules and regulations enacted by these Acts.

***************



CHAPTER-III

RESTORATION MEASURES FOR QUARRIES AND MINE PITS: AN OVERVIEW

Introduction

This chapter is an account of the SC’s learned opinion on the basis of literature

study, field visits, discussion with a segment of the stake holders and experts on

each of the clauses of the terms of reference listed in the GO (MS) No.

57/2011/ID dated 25-02-2011 of the GOK.

1. Restoration of Abandoned Quarries/Mine Pits

The first step in respect of any design and implementation of measures for re-

use of abandoned and mine pits/quarries is creation of an automated database

of quarries. To enable this, the SC has designed a format for data collection

(data sheet; see Appendix-IX). The SC is of the strong opinion that all the

operating and abandoned quarries of the state shall be brought into this

automated data base.

The SC points out that the Mining and Geology Department has launched a

similar data base project in its HQ. However, this data base so far has covered

only eight districts of the state. A sample data sheet used in this project is given

in Appendix-IX.

The SC recommends that the Mining and Geology Department of the State be

mandated to complete this data base using the data sheet proposed by the SC.

Obviously the data base project will entail additional staff and fund under the

DMG’s. However, without such basic essential information the effective

implementation of re-use measure could be difficult.

The Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1967 governing quarrying (i.e.,

issue permit/lease and operation), does not stipulate any clause/s for the

quarry closure except in the case of tile and brick clay pits. A bank guarantee of



` 275 per m3 intended for the implementation of restoration measures is

charged in respect of brick and tile clay pits. However, GOI has published draft

rules “Minor Mineral Regulation And Development Act, 2011” in which the

majority of the existing rules governing the administration of major minerals

have been extended to minor minerals also.

2. Furnish Suggestions regarding Alternative Uses of the Abandoned

Quarries

Abandoned Quarry Reuse

1. Leave-it-cordoned off

2. Water based reuse

3. Real estate based reuse

4. Treatment for Community service

5. Recreational reuse

6. Thematic reuse

7. Agricultural reuse

8. Reuse as Artificial Aquifers

Stability of Quarry wall/Pit and Shoulder

Before considering any tangible reuse option, the LSG shall satisfy itself

regarding the stability of the walls or slopes as well as the shoulders of the

abandoned quarry/pit. A Professional Geologist (from the Department of

Mining and Geology of the state, GSI, CESS or a certified professional Geologist

like RQP) is aptly suited to make this assessment on the stability or instability

of the quarry wall slope. The stabilization measures recommended by the

Professional Geologist shall be implemented by the LSG as the first step in the

direction of reuse.



Environmental Rehabilitation and Eco-restoration

Quarrying activities no doubt cause environmental damage, ecological

imbalances and hazards to human life. The spurts in population growth,

developmental programmes, and urbanization have necessitated stepping up of

quarrying to meet the increased demands of the community. It is pointed out

that both quarrying and environmental conservation are important and a

balance between the two has to be worked out. Environment management,

restoration, reclamation or rehabilitation programmes are to be concurrently

adopted to minimize adverse impacts on environment.

Issues in Eco-restoration

The present state of the quarry, its characteristics and surroundings will

decide on whether restoration, rehabilitation or reclamation is to be

carried out.

The first step in any restoration programme is to adopt physical

methods to reclaim the area like easing of slopes, terracing, leveling,

construction of retaining walls etc to make it conducive to interventions

for restoration.

Development of the peripheral drainage channels for safe disposal of

collected water to prevent erosion and sedimentation.

Identification of constraints in seed germination, species establishment.

Screening of suitable legumes, forage trees for nitrogen enrichment,

nutritional and microbial constraints of spoils/overburden in respect of

establishment of species.

Conservation of biodiversity, eco restoration matching with surrounding

landscape.

Use of soil amendments/ameliorants, identification of suitable mulches

and practices for in-situ moisture conservation practices.

Reclamation of erosion prone and steep areas with geotextiles, hydro

seeding and biological stabilization methods.



Strategies for Eco-restoration

The aim of restoration is to create a diverse mix of after-uses catering to

community amenities, agriculture and nature conservation. The restoration

programmes have to be initiated in phased manner. It is not possible to reverse

the whole area in a short span of time. A pilot project has to be taken up and

executed to demonstrate the possibility of making an area more productive and

remunerative using resource conservation and careful utilization of land. This

would help in motivating people to switch over to alternative uses of these

abandoned lands. The interventions proposed are location specific and have to

be systematically planned and measures appropriate to the site are proposed to

be executed scientifically.

Classes of Eco-restoration Measures

Engineering measures

Biological measures

Engineering Measures/Physical Reclamation

Prior to the introduction of biological methods, physical reclamation methods

like easing of slopes, land leveling, terracing, development of drainage channels,

filling up of craters and stabilization of overburden with geotextiles are to be

carried out to make the area conducive to biological re-cultivation

Biological Measures

In a majority of cases the raw overburden material from the mining activities

does not possess any soil character. It is totally devoid of organic matter and

soil micro flora so essential for establishment and sustenance of plant growth.

The alkaline/acidic nature of the heterogeneous spoil material delays the

natural plant succession processes. Moisture availability also plays a vital role

for initial plant establishment. For initial startup in such derelict sites organic



amendments have a dominant role. The natural process of soil formation is

accelerated only when revegetation starts and slowly the soil establishes

equilibrium with the surroundings.

Choice of Plant Species

Choice of the plant species depends on the characteristics of the soil, climate,

moisture availability and ultimate landuse.

Selection Criteria for Plant Species

Species should be capable of colonizing in the degraded site. Grasses are

more tolerant to adverse pH and moisture conditions than legumes.

Nitrogen fixing species are preferred as it enriches soil nitrogen.

Species capable of producing fuel, fodder for local community is

preferred.

Pasture grasses and legumes can be used for stabilization of spoil

dumps.

Afforestation using tree species increases the aesthetic value of the site.

Trees and shrubs can be used as wind breaks in areas where visual

shield is required.

Methods of Replanting

The availability of water in the area especially during summer and the ability of

spoil to retain moisture are vital for establishment of planted species. Raising of

vegetation can be done by the following methods.

Sowing seeds in-situ.

Planting nursery raised seedlings using microbial inoculums like

VAM/bacteria for easy seedling establishment.

Transplanting of individual species of natural vegetation from

surrounding areas.



Pocket planting of species recommended.

Modes of Green Cover Development

Transporting good quality top soil from surrounding natural areas

which contain seeds of grasses, rhizomes and tubers of herbs.

Grass mulches and sowing seeds of grasses.

Planting nursery raised seedlings.

Innovative Approaches in Biological Restoration

Hydroseeding

Suited for difficult terrain. This is a single step process and involves spraying

slurry of seed, fertilizer, fertile top soil, cow dung and water. A layer 0.5 to 2mm

thick is sprayed. Very effective in stony and nutrient poor shallow voids filled

with over burden waste materials. Hydro seeding can be practiced in pit

method to enhance seed germination.

Mulching

Overburden spoils should be leveled and erosion preventing structures

developed. The surface is then stabilized by application of organic mulches like

straw, composted coir waste, saw mill dust and biodegradable town waste

which will help in establishment. It improves water holding capacity, aeration,

drainage, and development of good structure. This method can be adopted in

pits used for raising seedlings.

Carpeting with Geotextiles

Spreading of geotextiles on surface on dumps helps improve infiltration,

drainage, and prevent surface erosion. It ensures stability and reinforcement of

slopes, amelioration of site condition and establishment of vegetation. Seeds or



nursery raised seedlings can be used as planting material. Coir geotextiles from

the Coir industry can be used for the purpose.

Use of Organic Wastes and Compost for Remediation and Restoration

In abandoned quarries where greening/agriculture is an option for restoration,

composting of organic wastes is a pre requisite. Composted coir pith waste or

biodegradable organic town waste can be utilized. Large scale composting

yards with Windrows for composting the waste have to be planned. The

compost mixed with the available material in the site such as sub soils, quarry

fines and waste dump materials forms an excellent planting medium. It

provides a balance of nutrients, organic matter, high water retention capacity,

aeration, drainage, good structure development and an ideal condition for

establishment of plant species.

Seed Mixtures of Grass and Legume

Grass and legume mixtures of native vegetation can be used. Grass should be a

local perennial with fibrous roots preferably a forage. Legume is a good

nitrogen fixer.

Vetiver Eco-engineering

Vetiver (Ramacham) grows well in landfills and quarries. It resists prolonged

dry spells or waterlogged situations and is an ideal species for quarry

restoration programmes. The vetiver eco-engineering, first developed by the

Chinese is now successfully practiced in over hundred countries. This technique

is mainly used for eco-restoration of vertical quarry walls which are an eyesore

in the natural landscape.

The technique consists of puncturing holes on the quarry face along the contour

using pneumatic drills. The orientation of the holes is at an angle of 450.

Hardened galvanized stakes protruding 60-80 cm on the quarry face are fixed.



Toughened plastic/PVC planks are placed over the fixed stakes to form a

triangular trough for filling soil/planting medium. Seedlings of vetiver or locally

available hardy species with massive roots, and rapid growth are planted. The

hedge rows of plants no longer need any maintenance except for some pruning

and hence easily establish. The major benefit is that the ‘Earth Scar’ on the

landscape is removed, the barren structure becomes an ‘Oasis’ and a self

persistent ecosystem gradually develops.

Vetiver Eco-restoration on Slopes

In slopping lands as part of slope stabilization, sand bags are placed at 2 m

contour intervals. Vetiver seedlings are planted above the sand bags in pits

filled up with a mixture of compost and waste as planting medium. The

restoration is quite successful as the survival rate of the planting seedlings is

very high. The original scree pile becomes a “green hill” with luxuriant grass

and other species that are planted.

Water based quarry restoration

Pisciculture

Large voids and pits eventually become large water bodies. After suitable

physical reclamation to ease slopes and depth they can be utilized for

Pisciculture. The side-slopes of such pits must have gentle slopes, which can be

aesthetically afforested with tree species. Technical knowhow of species to be

raised and rearing techniques can be had from experts in the Fisheries

Department. In Kerala, 879 rock quarry pools covering a cumulative area of

3.41 km2, has been identified by the Matsyafed, Government of Kerala, as

potential sites for fish farming.



Rainwater harvesting structures

Abandoned quarry pits can be used for harvesting rainwater and also for

recharging the groundwater reservoir in an area. The reuse options can be

classified into four.

1) Use of water in abandoned quarry pits for irrigation

The water collected in the abandoned pits can be used for irrigating garden

lands in adjacent areas. Both rainwater falling directly into the pit and seepage

into the pit from surrounding areas can be collected and used. The SC came

across instances of such use in Mullankolli panchayat of Wayanad district,

which is an area with comparatively less rainfall. Water collecting in the pits

are pumped out and used for irrigating crops like vegetables in summer. In

some cases the water is siphoned out if the land to be irrigated is further down

slope. A small pit with an area of 200 m2 and a depth of 5.0 m can store one

million liters of water. In many areas there are large pits with storage capacities

of 20 million liters or more.

An agriculturist from Palakkad district (Sri. Ibrahim Haji, S/O Abu Rahiman

Haji, Machingathodi house, Kudumunda PO, Pattambi) wrote to the SC stating

that he is using the water collecting in the abandoned quarry on his land for

irrigation. This water is used for irrigating coconut trees. Similarly a resort in

Kappad beach, Kozhikode utilizes water collecting in an abandoned quarry pit

for gardening. In addition, the Pariyaram Medical College in Kannur district

augments their water supply by ferrying quarry water in tanker lorries. Other

such examples are Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL) etc. These are good examples of

use of abandoned quarry pits. Storage of water in some pits can be increased by

collecting surface runoff in addition to the rain falling in the pit. This should be

done only if there is no possibility of destabilization of quarry walls by the

seeping water. A fence should be constructed around all such pits to prevent

accidents due to drowning.



2) Recharge of aquifers

Water collecting in quarry pits could be pumped or siphoned to large recharge

pits located in nearby areas where there is a sufficient thickness to weathered

zone. The bottom of the recharge pit should be at least 2 to 3 meters above the

shallowest water table at that site. The recharge pit may be about 5 to 10

meters square and 2 meters deep, depending upon availability of land, quantity

of water collecting in the quarry pit and local hydro geological conditions. This

type of pit recharges the unconfined aquifer tapped by open wells.

The pit can be further modified by drilling a recharge bore from its bottom for

recharging the fracture aquifer tapped by bore wells in the area. The borehole

should be drilled up to a fracture zone in the crystalline rock below the

weathered zone. A suitable sand filter has to be provided in this case for

filtering the water before it enters the bore hole. Recharge pits with recharge

bores are also feasible in laterite quarry pits. Study of wells around a laterite pit

at Padiyathadka in Kasaragod district revealed that water percolating into the

pit is rapidly lost as subsurface runoff in the post monsoon season and hence

does not improve the availability of water in the open wells in the area in

summer. Provision of recharge bores as mentioned above will divert at least

part of this subsurface runoff into water-yielding fracture zones in the hard

rock. Construction and monitoring of these structures should be done under the

guidance of hydro geologists of the Ground water department. The exact

specifications depend on hydrogeological conditions at a particular site.

Where a quarry pit is suitably located on a hill slope, water collecting in the pit

can be siphoned off to ponds in nearby valleys without using electrical energy.

HDPE pipes of suitable diameter may suffice. Additional storage in the ponds

helps to recharge wells in the area. Consequently, drowning accidents can be

avoided. Siphoning of water from springs emerging on hill slopes is widely

practiced in Kasargod district. The pipes cover distances of 100 to more than

300 meters across rough terrain.



3) Drinking water supply

Where conditions permit, water accumulating in quarry pits, after pre-

treatment can be used for drinking water supply to small communities. In

places with minimum chances of pollution, collection of surface runoff in the pit

can also be considered for this purpose if facility for proper treatment of the

water is provided.

4) Quarry Pits into Man-made Aquifers

Small abandoned quarries with impermeable walls and floor can be rebuilt as

man-made aquifers by partially filling with suitable granular materials like

coarse aggregates and sand, especially in communities facing acute drinking

water scarcity and to the avoidance of tanker lorry water supplies. The pit may

initially be filled with coarse aggregate and the top one meter filled with sand to

act as a filtering medium. Interception of rainwater by the pit will saturate this

artificial aquifer and water can be drawn using hand pumps. The potential of

such aquifers can be improved by directing surface runoff into the quarries.

This requires a thicker filling of aggregates in the pit for storing the additional

recharge and also construction of settling ponds for removing suspended

matter in the runoff before it enters the aquifer. The top few centimeters of

sand acting as filter in the pit will have to be washed seasonally to remove the

fine material clogging the pores. This type of reuse may be viable only in cases

of extreme drinking water shortage.

Aquaculture of flowering water plants

Cultivation of aquatic flowering plants like Lotus, Water Lilies etc in small

and/or large quarry pits is a remunerative alternative. Scientists, Malabar

Botanical Gardens, Kozhikode and the University of Calicut are the apt

resource persons for rendering appropriate Scientific/Technical support.



Hydro reclamation

An interesting area of restoration of water bodies is for water sports and other

recreation. Parameters like side slope, depth, quality of water are to be looked

into. This is especially suited for areas without water bodies and would be a

profitable venture.

Development of Community facilities

Based on the site characteristics of the quarry in terms of area, distance from

township, accessibility etc. they can be utilized for development of community

facilities like recreation places, sports, parking lots for trucks and large

vehicles, compost yards, cemeteries etc.

Exotic plantations

Current reclamation and rehabilitation efforts often use fast growing exotic

species. The raising of such exotic species is justifiable only in degraded areas.

In biologically fragile ecosystems they have to be used with caution.

Development of Composite nurseries

Subject to availability of water and site attributes, abandoned L-shaped

quarries and laterite pits are potential sites for starting composite nurseries

(of grasses, shrubs, multipurpose trees for fuel, fodder, timber, fruit crops, and

medicinal plants). This facility shall supply planting material for development

of eco-friendly production systems. Scope of participation of landless labour,

NGOs, self help groups, farm women and other agencies can be thought of.

Biomass and bio-energy development

Since most of the abandoned quarries are located in non arable land with

hostile environment, ways and means of organizing peoples voluntary



participation in developing common property resource pools for fuel,

multipurpose trees, community grazing lands, fish ponds, composting yards,

biogas plants, low cost solar devices for sharing of resources by the local

community. The people have to manage the installations as common property

(but also have common responsibility to derive common benefits). NGO’s are

apt motivators of people in this activity.

Farming systems approach

Farming systems approach, highly suited to laterite pits falling in less hostile

environment, where overburden soil responsive to management. A judicious

blending of farming systems with components of agro forestry, horticulture,

livestock, Pisciculture, pasture and fodder would be a viable proposition. The

components of the system, crops to be raised are based on site conditions and

local needs. Failure of any component can be offset by the other components of

the system.

Monitoring and Maintenance

The success of any quarry restoration programme should be couched in the

acuity of Monitoring and Maintenance schedule. This has to be initiated

immediately after the initial revegetation process is concluded, to ensure that

the desired target land use is achieved within a reasonable time period. The soil

amelioration and vegetation management is often overlooked leading to total

failure. The after care has to be planned for a period of two to five years is to

ensure establishment of plants after overcoming the initial growth constraints

in the hostile environment. Another objective is the development of a viable

soil-plant system with nutrient cycling and turnover to support the vegetation.

After care involves various management strategies like addition of fertilizers,

amendments, irrigation, gap filling, and other operations to ensure satisfactory

growth of the species planted. The buildup of biomass and fertility of the soil

would eventually lead to development of a soil profile and vegetation cover.



Monitoring of fertility status especially nitrogen, soil reaction, plant protection

are important to ensure a healthy growth environment. Once the soil has

ameliorated and the plants established, the system develops on its-own but the

process of equilibrium of the eco system will take a longer time.



Planning restoration strategies



Institutional mechanisms

Each abandoned quarry shall be developed as a unit with multiple

livelihood support systems and common property, managed by the

community/stakeholder group and at the same time conserves resources,

improves ecological foundations and quality of life.

It is imperative to evolve collective consciousness among the members of

the community, NGOs and SHGs shall organize themselves for success of

the program and for reaping the bountiful of benefits.

Monitoring quality of restoration programmes

The key to success of any restoration programme is the early establishment of soil

microbial population in the restored sites. Organic matter replenishment in the

early stages of revegetation hastens easy establishment of the planted species and

the soil microbial community. Monitoring of the quality of biodiversity, soil, water

and air in the restored ecosystem periodically has to be undertaken for quality

assessment.

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.

Whether or not the quarry qualifies for any sort of restorative measure/s, erecting

a metallic barricade is recommended, to serve as a protective and hazard warning

structure to the public and animals.

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 in nature, warning signs also shall announce

the average depth of ponded water.



The Grama Panchayat (GP) concerned shall be in charge of securing and servicing,

this fence. The GP will arrange with the school/s in the neighbourhood (i.e., within

a radius of 1.0 Km from the quarry) mock drills twice every academic session (viz.,

before the onset of SW and NE monsoons) on the risks and hazards in trespassing

into the quarry.

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.

4. Identify the agency which can restore the abandoned quarries.

Currently, there is no readily available expert group in the government sector to

assist the LSGs in identification, design and preparation of DPR or in the

supervision and execution of restorative measures.

Therefore, the committee recommends creation of:

a. Separate cell (Abandoned Quarry Reuse Cell) in the Department of Mining

and Geology, Govt. of Kerala to offer scientific and technical assist and to

the LSG in reuse related activities.

b. A panel of experts (viz., geologists, forestry/eco-restoration experts,

hydrogelogists, farm scientists and civil engineers) to advise the Cell in

formulating the modalities of reuse.

c. The District/Block/Grama Panchayat concerned shall indent this agency to

go for identification, design and implementation of restoration plan and

future upkeep of the restored quarry.



d. For developing the restorative measures, the LSG shall seek advice from

one or more of their technical committees. This committee/s shall advise

the Panchayat administration regarding the outsourcing or in house

preparation of the DPR. The DPR will be evaluated by the Cell in the DMG

and approved by the advisory committee prior to implementation.

e. The LSG/Government can be in the lookout for industry/ institutions/

organizations directly involved in the quarrying or indirectly involved in

quarrying as an end user or societal- well-wisher,, for adopting the

implementation of DPR for restoration and post restoration maintenance

for at least a period of 5 to 10 yr.

5. Legal/legislative measures, if any

The existing rules and regulations governing quarry closure cover only tile and

brick clay among the minor minerals. With the exception of a handful of instances,

hardly any example of implementation of quarry closure can be cited from the

state. In fact, the operator just abandons the operations without paying any heed

to the clauses of contract that enable issue of the operating permit by the issuing

authority.

In order to take up the task of ensuring effective implementation of quarrying

rules and to prevent violations, if any, it will be necessary to rejuvenate the

mineral conservation and development wing of the state department. The staff

should include mining engineers and geologists specially trained for this purpose.

Also the rules have to be extended to all minor minerals in the state.

While granting a quarrying permit, it should be made imperative on the part of the

lessee to undertake to restore the landscape to its near-original state after

quarrying, as in the case of major minerals. It is absolutely essential on the part of



the government that provisions for realizing the actual cost of the restoration

process projected in advance by taking into consideration the simulated areal

extent and final depth of the quarry based on the submitted mine plan vis-à-vis the

extant rules for limitations. It would be necessary for the department to take the

services of mining engineers, RQPs and their supporting technical assistants to

arrive at a realistic quantification of mineable reserves.

Further, it would be necessary to involve the LSGs even at the stage of granting

quarrying leases, so that there would be an on-the-spot check of the violations of

the act and rules during ongoing operations.

To take an example of the practices in a neighboring state, it would be worthwhile

to note that in Tamil Nadu, each district Collectorate has a mines cell attached to it

which is the recommending authority for the grant of mineral concessions. The

staff at the Collectorate comprises Dy. Director and Asst. Director under whom a

Tahsildar and Review Inspectors function as the supporting staff. This system has

proved to be more effective in disposing of the applications for mineral

concessions since the respective collectorates have been responsible for

furnishing the availability of land and also for checking the day-to-day mining

activity down to the village level. Introduction of this system in Kerala too

deserves due consideration. The staff of the DMG, can be deputed to the Mines Cell

to work in tandem with the Revenue team to address these issues.

Existing Regulatory

The following are the major acts and regulations controlling mining activities in

India.

a. The Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1967 govern quarrying related

activities sanctioned by GOK.

b. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

c. Mineral conservation and Development Rules, 1988



d. Granite Conservation and Development Rule, 1999

e. Mineral Concession Rules, 1960

f. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

g. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

h. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

i. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

6. Financial implication required for reclamation/reuse

The GOI (MMR, 1988) makes a provision of a bank guarantee of ` 150, 000/- per

ha and a progressive- and final -mine closure plan, which are pre-conditions for

the grant of mining lease for major minerals. In addition, the RQP (Registered

Qualified Person), a professional authorized by the Indian Bureau of Mines, shall

prepare a mining plan for the first five years along with a progressive Mine

Closure Plan, which commences from the fourth year on wards.

On the contrary, in the State with exception of a few, majority of operators leave

the mined pits unattended. All the quarry operators in Kerala (abandoned or

operating), follow a practice of “quarry and walk off”. This is in spite of the fact

that at the time of applying for quarry permit, an undertaking in ` 50/- stamp

paper to refill the quarry/pit including restoration of the soil profile. According to

the public works department, GOK, obviously, the bank guarantee provided by the

mine operator is not sufficient to cover the cost of reclamation of the mine pit.

The SC recommends the following measures to create a corpus for restoration of

quarry/pit.

i. Institute a reclamation bond.

ii. Create a Superfund to help finance the reclamation.



iii. The existing provision of Bank guarantee (in respect of major minerals), of

` 150,000/- per ha, shall be extended to the minor minerals including

granite quarries.

iv. According to the state PWD, this amount of ` 150,000/- is grossly

insufficient to undertake the refilling operations. Therefore SC

recommends enhancing this of this amount to at least ` 300,000/-.

7. How to restore quarry pits in a phased manner giving priority to category

of mine, area and danger to the public.

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 field 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.

***************



CHAPTER-IV

SUMMARY

a. Nearly 8,000 to 10,000 quarries are in the State, of which roughly a third of

this number is abandoned. Quarrying activities undoubtedly cause

environmental damage and ecological imbalances. Abandoned quarries are

blemishes on the landscapes and are focal points of hazards to community.

The DMG has created a database of quarries covering eight southern

districts of Kerala. The datasheet designed by the DMG needs addition of

some more points to make it more comprehensive and realistic such that it

is useful for anyone concerned with quarry reuse. The SC revised this

datasheet (see Appendix-IX). Quarrying and mining are “evils” every

modern society has to coexist with. The more modern the society, the

larger the quantity of the earth materials extracted.

b. The SC has examined the problems caused by the abandoned quarries and

mine pits in the light of quarry-related accidents and ecological concerns.

The SC has identified and recommended a host of reuse measures for

restoration of abandoned quarries. Each abandoned quarry shall be

developed as a unit with multiple livelihood support systems and common

property, managed by the community/stakeholder group and at the same

time conserves resources, improves ecological foundations and quality of

life.

c. In respect of major minerals, there are provisions as well as financial

guarantees by the operating lessee to execute reclamation,

rehabilitation/reuse measures of the mined out area. The Bank guarantee

offered by the lessee holder is patently insufficient so that the reuse

measures cannot be put in place by the PWD-the designated agency for this

task. In contrast, as per the existing rules governing the stone quarrying

operations in the State; there does not exist any bank guarantee on the part



of the lessee to be used for implementation of any sort of

rehabilitation/reuse of abandoned quarries. Currently more than one

agency is mandated to issue a quarrying permit leading to a situation

where in the database or data on quarries become boundless. Quarrying for

stone and laterite is currently covered by the The Minor Minerals

Concession Rules, 1967. The quarry permit applications do not call for the

nature of reuse strategy after stoppage of quarrying for want of scientific

input. There does not exist a strategy or action plan for rehabilitation/

reuse of the abandoned quarries for any sort of common use, except in the

case of tile and brick clay pits. There are no state laws prescribing a quarry

as abandoned or orphaned. Currently, the quarry site is not identified by

the DMG/GSI or not earmarked for extraction for rock, stone or similar

materials. Issue of quarry permit does not require even a rapid EIA study.

Quarries of the State generally fall under three generic classes’ viz., L-

Shaped Quarry, U-shaped Quarry, and U-in-L Quarry. The state government

shall extend the provisions of Major Minerals Act in respect of minor

minerals also.

d. The corresponding royalty payable by the operator is far below what needs

to be legitimately remitted. This is a great drain on the state’s revenue. The

current system of opting for compounding of royalty is a great drain of

revenue to the State. The SC recommends replacing the system by making

suitable amendments to the rules, making the end-user pay the royalty.

GOK may consider levying of royalty on the basis of ad valorem. The

government may exempt the BPL families from paying the end-user-

royalty. In Kerala, Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1967 does not

prescribe any clause for prevention of abandoning of quarry by the lessee.

The GOI has published draft rules “Minor Mineral Regulations and

Development Act, 2011” in which majority of the existing rules governing

the administration of major minerals have been extended to minor

minerals. Mine closure plans should be insisted during the adjudication of



the lease as stipulated in the rules governing exploitation of major minerals

in the country. The quarries found abandoned for more than 5 years have

to be taken over by the LSG for adapting rehabilitation or to take up reuse

measures. The SC recommends the GOK to make suitable legislative

amendments enabling the takeover by LSGs.

e. Quarried land or land for quarry permit applied is mostly under lease, or

own land or public land. Bank guarantee for reclamation is to be provided

before executing the lease to operate quarry. The bank guarantee shall be

in tune with the production of quarry extracts during the first five years (as

specified in the mining plan). All the quarries in the state are either in the

operator’s own land, leased land or public land. This sort of ownership

variation puts the reclamation of quarries public funds in a tricky situation.

Quarries in patta land obviously create problems regarding investment of

public funds for reclamation. On the other hand quarries in poramboke

land do not pose any public investment related issues and hence are ready-

site for reclamation program.

f. In the given climate of Kerala, large number of quarries is flooded

perennially or ephemerally. In operating quarries, dewatering is resorted

to for continuing quarrying operations. In the abandoned quarries, flooding

is perennial and display micro-algal blooms. In respect of laterite/ brick

and tile pits and abandoned clay mines, water logging is influenced by

geological controls like a layer of impervious clayey formations

(lithomargic clay, stratified clayey formations). The water ponded in these

pits therefore could be seasonal or perennial. The abandoned clay mines on

the other hand are “vast” pits on the landscape tending to collect and

accumulate water sometimes sufficient enough to support supply to the

community after treatment.

g. An abandoned quarry on the left bank of Kuttiyadi river in Murad,

Kozhikode district, has been transformed into a world-class example of



reuse of an abandoned perennially water-logged rock quarry spread over

2.0-3.0 ha. Sargalaya, an arts and crafts village as a tourism destination has

been developed and managed by a co-operative society founded in 1925,

supported by the Department of Tourism, GOK.

h. The right of way of NH-49 at Mamala, sits perched on a “thin” rock wall

(like on a natural rocky embankment) separating two deep-abandoned-

flooded-quarries to its north and south. An enterprising mind has chosen to

run a mobile ice cream Kiosk at the road entrance to the fenced of quarry

making the first step to develop the spot into a picnic centre/road side rest

area. 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. During water scarcity, the

Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur meets part of its water requirement by

ferrying tanker loads from a quarry to the East of the Medical College

Campus. Some innovative brains in Kerala are raising ornamental/edible

fish on a commercial scale in Palaghat district. Utilization of ponded water

in the abandoned quarries for irrigating farmlands is successfully practiced

in parts of Palaghat and Wayanad districts. In Trivandrum district, a large

parcel of land reclaimed from an equally large, exhausted clay mine in

Thonnakkal has been purchased by TCS, India for developing an office park.

In Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram district, a company operating a

modern clay mine and a clay processing and up-gradation industry has

been back-filling the mined pits and using the huge volumes of water

gathering in the pits for use in the processing unit and recycling the used

water for repeat use in the clay processing plant. In a large china clay pit at

Mangalapuram, also in Thiruvananthapuram district, the accumulated

water, after treatment is supplied to a community of about 200 families. At

Kalluvathukkal, in Kollam district to the west of NH-47, there is a

perennially flooded large (approx. 3.0 ha) abandoned quarry which



considered by the LSG concerned for conversion into a children’s water

park with GOI funds. The project, however, did not take off.

i. Awareness program for members of LSGs, social activists, teachers and

societal leaders is to be taken up to emphasize the need to cultivate

technical knowhow for reuse of quarries/mines and their monitoring and

management. The SC recommends to the GOK the initiation of reclamation

of a U- and L-shaped quarry in a Poramboke land in the State to showcase

the feasibility of the programme on restoration of the local-disturbed-

environment and conservation of ecosystem.

***************

Appendix-I

Know Your Quarry- A Course Outline

Goal: Public awareness on the needs, science of siting, ancient and modern operations,

management and scientific closure and reuse models and best practices.

Content:

Minerals and Rocks, decomposition and soil formation

Climate and rainfall

Durability of rocks and rock based artifacts

Use of rocks and minerals in modern society and modern living

Estimation of reserve of rocks: end use specific quality assessment.

Methods of extraction of rocks and minerals from surface, near surface or sub-

surface.

Rules concerning extraction; Adequacy or otherwise of the rules,

Environmental impact, concerns

Management of the quarrying operations.

Stoppage of extraction and reasons

Reclamation and Reuse of abandoned sites

Monitoring and maintenance

This one day (4 hr show and tell and 4 hr of field visit) on varied facets of extractive

processes, scientific closure and restoration of land ecology of the disturbed areas

warranting restoration

Outcome: Successful achievement of general awareness of quarrying.

***************

Appendix-II

Quarry Study Tour

The students these days are taken around the state and even out side of the state on

educational trips. For well known reasons, the quarries are yet to find a place in their

itinerary. So is the media attention on quarries, except in respect of injuries/fatalities

happening directly or indirectly due to the quarries?

As a matter of new policy, the SC makes a strong bid to the GOK, to advise the schools to

include a visit to a quarry for the high schoolers to bridge the element of information

gap in respect of quarries.

The District Geologist can bring out a hand out for use of visiting students and the

school administration can download the same from the website of DMG.

Outcome: Creating Quarry awareness among the students

***************

Appendix-III

“Green” Fund for reuse treatment of quarries

1. The SC recommends to GOK to conduct a bumper lottery to raise a corpus

(fund) for eco-restoration of disturbed land by quarrying. Considering the

environmental awareness and high levels of literacy, this lottery shall

fetch a profit of at least ` 20.0-30.0 crores. When the SC suggests this, it

has in mind the Christmas-, Onam-, Vishu-Bumper etc. This profit can

serve as nucleus funds for initiating restoration works before the last

quarter of this financial year.

2. A WB/ADB loan for environmental rehabilitation of the quarried lands

may be thought of.

3. Introduce a new cess of 5% of unit cost of quarry extracts and value

added quarry extracts.

***************

Appendix-IV

Quarry Reuse Advisory Cell, Q-RAC

Q-RAC is envisioned as an expert advisory body to help in the formulation of measures

for quarry reuse.

Creation: The GOK will make the appointment of members to the committee out of a

panel proposed by the DMG, GOK. The senior most scientist member shall be act as

Chairman of the committee.

Composition: This committee shall have geoscientists, Farm scientists, Environmental

Scientists, GIS Experts and Senior Engineers, at least one each from each specialty. The

convenor shall be a Geoscientist at the rank of at least Dy. Director in the DMG, GOK.

Periodicity of meeting: The committee shall meet at least once every three months or

as demanded by the convenor.

Functions: The committee shall examine and/or hear requests from the LSG or

organizations ready to take up and implement reuse measures of quarry/ies and based

on the data made available shall arrange for design of a procedure for implementation

in the site to enable an optimal reuse. The members of the committee shall make field

visits before finalizing the reuse plan.

Finance: The members of the committee shall be eligible for a sitting fee as well as TA

and DA for attending meetings are trips and tasks related to quarry reuse.

Tenure of membership: The tenure of members in the committee shall be five years.

This is to fall in line with the tenure of the LSG members, as well as programs under the

V yr plan.

***************

Appendix-V

Quarry Data Cell, Q-DAC

The System

The SC has come to the inescapable conclusion that the GOK may take the necessary

steps (Conceptual, Administrative and Financial or whatever) required to create a Q-

DAC under the DMG. Outwardly it might seem redundant, in the light of data bases

maintained in other agencies of GOK.

Unanimously, the SC has come to the understanding that a data base of quarries of all

sorts (including mines, brick and tile clay pits, laterite pits etc) in the state shall be

enumerated with both static and dynamic data elements, so that information is available

to access at any time of the day from the Q-DAC server. The SC designed a sample

format for gathering quarry specific data. This data base is a pre-requisite for

restorations site identification, quarry product supply management and so on. .

Goal

An automated computer based data base on quarries of Kerala is the minimal goal

envisioned by the SC. The data base is scalable and could be the basis for monitoring

the process of quarrying, spatial distribution of all quarries, accidents, stoppages of

work and reasons and consequences etc.

Structure of the Cell

The cell shall be an integral part of the DMG. A GIS-Geologist assisted by two Assistant

Geologists will be in charge of the day to day operations

Advisory Panel

Policies and action plans shall be formulated by a advisory committee of scientists

drawn from the GSI, Kerala, CGWB, Kerala, DMG, and Professor of Geology, Dept, of

Geology, University of Kerala. The DMG shall nominate the committee members.

Staff, Finance and Infrastructure

In the Headquarters

Geologist -1; Asst. Geologist -2

The cell will need new staff for one team each for northern and southern districts

Hardware and software cost: ` 50 lakhs

Data collection: ` 30/- lakhs (This mission can be accomplished by deploying a large

survey team trained in the enumeration of quarry data along the lines prescribed in the

sample data enumeration sheet).

Other Infrastructure:

A team of one geologist and two assistant geologists will be in charge of quarry

inventory and enumeration work in the northern districts (i.e., Thrissur, Palakkad,

Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod) and another team with same

staffing pattern will be in charge of the southern districts (Thiruvananthapuram,

Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam). The deployment

of student volunteers (on a honorarium) of the physical science stream with minimal

orientation will be a great addition to this programme.

For this two field vehicles, drivers, fuel and maintenance cost etc.

***************

Appendix-VI

Inventorying of Quarriable Tracts in Kerala

The SC recommends to GOK to launch a three year (three field season) program 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 at least until 2030. The demand for quarry extracts shall jump

episodically during this time band. Projects like Kochi Metro, doubling of rail roads,

construction of the new north-south intra-state highway, new airports, the Vizhinjam

trans-shipment port and malls, flats, schools, power projects etc will call for large

additional sources of quarry products. The GOK will have to take up the issue and

implement it through the DMG and involving the GSI.

***************

Appendix-VII

Redesign DMG Website with Additional Content

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. In addition to posting

downloadable forms, the activities and scientific functions discharged by the DMG

should be part of the website. Quarries, quarrying, its essentiality to the society and

nation building should find a place. A citizens’ FAQs is essential in the site.

***************

Appendix-VIII

Scientific Advisory Board

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 resource. The SC is of the unanimous view that a statutory scientific advisory

board be created to advise the DMG to better administer the non-living resources of the

state to the benefit of the state and nation. This type of advisory board, in practically all

the nations of the modern world, is devised to ensure the inventorying and sustainable

managing of specific natural resources for common good. In the various Indian states,

the practice of installing a scientific advisory board to advise on the medium and long

term resource use and management policies is not in vogue. The SC strongly

recommends to the GOK of creation of an advisory board to assist the DMG and the team

of scientists in discharging their duties and obligations for the welfare of the public of

the state,

Composition of the advisory board:

1. A senior geoscientist of the KSCSTE

2. Director, Geological Survey Unit of the state

3. RD, CGWB, Kerala

4. Director (or nominee), Mines and Geology, Tamil Nadu

5. Director (or nominee), Mines and Geology, Karnataka

6. Professor, Department of Geology, (from University of Kerala & CUSAT, Kochi)

7. Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Div., ISSER

8. DMG, Convener

Periodicity of meeting:

Once a year or as demanded by the exigencies

Appointment of Members:

Secretary, Industries Department, GOK from a panel provided by DMG.

Term:

Reconstitution once in five years.

***************

Appendix-IX

GOVERNMENT OF KERALA DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGY

QUARRY DATABASE MISSION (QUARRY ENUMERATION SHEET-DRAFT)

Name of Enumerator: Enumerator ID: Date and time of site visit: Data sheet ID:

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

1.District: 2. Taluk:

3. Village: 4.GPW/No

5. Name of Lessee:

6. Contact Address:

6a.Permanent address:

6c. Contact Phone/s: 6d.E-mail:

STATE OF QUARRY

7.Operating: 7a. operating from 7b.Abandoned 7c. abandoned from

If abandoned, specify: 8.Non-remunerative, 9.Court order 10.Public apathy

QUARRY LAND OWNERSHIP

11. Patta 12. Poramboke 13.Forest 14. Survey ID 15. Other

DETAILS OF DMG PERMISSIONS, APPROVALS

16. Lease 17. Permit :

18. Area covered by lease 19.Tenure of lease/permit:

GEOSPATIAL PARAMETERS

20. SOI sheet ID: 20a. Scale: 20b. CARTOSAT Scene ID:

21.GPS ID 21a. @.Quarry: 21b. at main rd.

GPS reference to 4 corners

and centre if dry

22a. N.

22b.E.

22c.S:

22d.W:

22e.C:

PROFILE OF QUARRY EXTRACT

23a. Rubble 23b. Aggregates 23c. Road metal 23d. Rail ballast

23e.BrickLaterite 23f. Red earth 23g. Brick clay 23h. Tile clay 23k.China clay

24. Approximate Annual Production:

MODE OF PAYMENT OF ROYALTY

32a: Quarterly 32b. Half yearly 32c. Annually

QUARRY - PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

33. Extent of active operational area (in ar/ha):

34.

Type of Quarry 35a. L-shaped 35b. length of face, m:

35c. Width of floor, m: 35d. L.working face, m 35e. working floor, m:

36a.U-shaped 36b. Length, m: 36c.Width, m:

36d. Depth, m: 36e.Water logged 36f. Dry 36g. Deep(>2.0m)

36h.Shallow (<2.0 m)

PHOTO/VIDEO RECORD, Camera at points identifiable at later dates.

37a. Date of photo: 37b.Date of Videography

37c.Shot from main gate 37d.View straight into 37e. View toward right

37f.. View toward left 37g. View downward

CULTURAL SETTING

38a. Nearest school, km 38b. Nearest place of worship 38c. Nearest house/settlement

38d. Nearest hospital 38e. Nearest police station 38f. Nearest fire station

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

39a. Sheet rock 39b. Ridge 39c. Isolated hill

39d. Drainage basin-ID 39e. Nearest wetland 39f. Nearest farm land

39g. Dominant natural vegetation 39h. Dominant birds and animals

39i. Source of drinking water

NATURAL HAZARDS

40a. Earth tremors 40b. Landslips 40c. Debris flow

40d. Flood 40f. Loss of life, if any

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

41a. Fire induced 41b. Blasting triggered 41c. Lorry mishaps

GEOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

42a. Joint systems (1, 2, 3) 42b. Joint spacing (50 cm, 100

cm, 200 cm/massive)

42c. Foliation/Gneissocity

42d. Nature, type and state

of intrusive

HYDROLOGIC SETUP

43a. Type of streams

(ephemeral/perennial)

43b. Degree of elimination by

quarry/spoil dump

43c.

44. State of subsurface water

a. Depth to water level in wells within 100 m of quarry perimeter (<10.0 m/10.1-15.0 m/>15.1 m)

b. Nature of wells (seasonal/perennial)

c. Influence of quarrying on water levels;

Wells w/n 50.0 m

(rise/fall/dry)

50.1-75.0 m (rise/fall/dry) 75.1-100.0 m (rise/fall/dry)

VISUAL IMPACTS

***************

1

Appendix-XI GOVERNMENT SUB-COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND ON THE REUSE OF

ABANDONED QUARRIES AND MINE PITS IN KERALA. (Vide GO. (MS) N0.57/2011 dtd 25-2-11)

(Members: M/s Chandramohana Kumar, Dr. Thrivikramji KP, MP Muraleedharan, J. Pradeep Kukillaya, Dr VK Venugopal)

1. Prologue The proliferation of abandoned quarries and mine pits, AQ&MP, (i.e., rock / laterite quarries and china clay mines) across the state of Kerala, and accidental drowning deaths that have become sort of routine, has intensely affected the psyche of the average public. This “annoyance” has taken “ugly” turns and expression of ire in public, in the form of protests of various sorts. The loss of scores of young lives annually in the water pools in the abandoned quarries or mine pits indeed, is a sad fact and consequently the GOK appointed the Sub-committee (SC) to undertake a scientific data collection and analysis, based on which to recommend scientific methods of their reuse merging with the site specific landscape features and hence avoidance of such quarry-drowning-deaths on a tangible manner..

2. Current Status With the national GDP growing at the rate of 8 or 9 percent, 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 rising demand will add an extra spurt in the number of new quarries as well as abandoned quarries. Truly, in Kerala there are at least 8000 to 9000 operating rock quarries (both legal and illegal), to meeting the domestic demand for rock and aggregates. More over the proposed Vizhinjam Port and the four-laning of highways will require a huge input (Billions of tons) of rock and aggregate, putting deeper demands for the rock and byproducts. Nevertheless, another set of pits needing a rehabilitation policy are the scores of abandoned brick/tile clay pits in the Kole of Thrissur and in the floodplains of several rivers. The abandoned quarries and mine pits certainly and unequivocally, are primary indelible eye sores and scars on the otherwise near natural landscape of the state. In reality, there is another possible secondary consequence/s like partial or complete (yet seasonal or perennial) flooding of the ex-quarries. Another eyesore is quarry associated waste piles of unsold rubble covering the immediate rim of the quarry – a residual feature due to an absence of exit of quarrying/mining operations. A tertiary consequence is often reported drowning deaths of scores of youngsters annually. Thus pools of rain water or groundwater accumulating seasonally and in variable depths into the AQ&MP have more negative attributes (ignoble site of accidental drowning & deaths) than positive benefits for the neighborhood community. Such pools of water are quite attractive to the youngsters (in the communities near and far) as sites for adventure recreations or escapades.

2

Therefore, we the members of the SC sincerely and earnestly seek your cooperation r by answering the queries or offering your comments to the statements appearing in the following pages. The data we gather through this effort will go a long way in finalizing our recommendations to the GoK.

[We are indeed pleased to request you (the respondent) to cooperate with us by responding to the following set of queries / suggestions raised in the pages that follow. You respond either by making a check mark or a circle around your choice or writing in your opinion. We do know well that some of the questions are targeted at professionals. We request you to study the content before attempting to record your views.]

PART I

Your Name: Address: e-mail/Post Age: Phone (M) Other Affiliation (Check or circle one): Social activist / LSG- President / LSG-Member / Member- NGO / Professional / Quarry operator / Resident near Quarry: 50-100 m / 101-500 m/ >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: <50 m / 51- 100 m/ 101- 500 / >500.0 m Distance from Town/village centre: <50 m / 51- 100 m / 101- 500 m / >500 m Distance from a place of worship: <50 m / 51- 100 m / 101- 500 m / >500 m Distance from Public road: <50 m: 51- 100 m; 101- 500 m; >500 m

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

3

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 <4 months of yr Source of water: Rain / stream flow / Ground water / all

4

Peak water depth in Monsoon: <1 m / 1-2 m / 2-3 m / > 3 m

PART III

(Though answering this section, (by circling one or more options), might call for special professional knowledge, respondent could make a try with the help of

professionals or might even skip this section). Geological Makeup: a. Quarried rock: Granite / Laterite / Bauxite / Tile & Brick Clay / China clay / Other b. Joint systems: one/two/ three systems Joint spacing: 50 cm / 100 cm / 200 cm Intrinsic weathered zones/layers: Yes / no; if yes approximate visible dimensions Foliations and gneissocity: Nature, type and state of Intrusives: State of Subsurface water Depth to water level in wells in the proximity: <10 m / 10-15 m / > 15 m Nature of wells in the proximity: Steady / seasonal Influence of Quarrying on water level in wells in the proximity: In wells within 50 m of the Quarry: rise / fall / turned dry In wells within 50-75 m of the Quarry: rise / fall / turned dry In wells > 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:

5

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- ; Life/s lost- ; Disabled life/s: c. Drowning: Yea/s- ;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

6

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]]

mailto:[email protected]


