Mumbai, Oct. 28 -- Environmental clearance has been granted to two limestone mining projects in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, although one partly overlaps a designated Great Indian Bustard (GIB) priority area and the other is located 1.77 km from such a zone. The priority areas serve as important refuges and breeding grounds for the critically endangered bird.

The approved projects involve the Parewar SN1 Limestone Block in Parewar village, operated by Wonder Cement, and the Ramgarh Auctioned Block in Ramgarh village, operated by Dalmia Bharat Green Vision. The Union Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended both projects during its meeting on October 8.

The Parewar project covers a mining lease area of 960 ha, including 0.29 ha within GIB habitat, and is 7.34 km from the Mokla Parewar Conservation Reserve. The EAC recommended that no mining should occur on the habitat portion and that Wonder Cement surrender the area after the clearance and execution of the mining lease deed. The project's environmental impact assessment said mining could disturb birds' feeding, resting and movement, while describing the impact as minor and outlining mitigation measures.

The Ramgarh project covers more than 250 ha and lies 1.77 km from a GIB priority area. An assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India divided its potential impact area into a direct zone, comprising the mine, associated cement plant and a 1-km buffer, and an indirect zone extending to 10 km. Surveys recorded no GIBs in the direct zone, but grasslands in the indirect zone supported chinkara, foxes, spiny-tailed lizards, desert gerbils, raptors, vultures and other open-habitat birds.

The assessment warned that mining, vehicle movement, dust and machinery could reduce grassland productivity and habitat suitability. It also identified collision and electrocution risks for raptors and possible future GIB reintroductions if overhead transmission lines are installed. The study said habitat restoration would be essential to preserve the wider Ramgarh landscape's ecological functions.

The decisions follow other clearances in Jaisalmer. An UltraTech Cement project in Joga, covering more than 400 ha and located 5.8 km from a GIB priority area, received terms of reference in September. In July, Star Cement North East received similar approval for a 960-ha project, 280 ha of which lies within GIB habitat.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.