CE6180:EIA- Lecture 13

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR PUBLIC HEARING

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE Whoever apply for environmental clearance projects, shall submit to the concerned State Pollution Control Board twenty sets of the following documents namely:
An executive summary containing the salient features of the project both in English as well as local languages. Form XII prescribed under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975 where discharge of sewage, trade effluents treatment of water in any form, is required. Form I prescribed under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Union, Territory Rules, 1983, where discharge of emissions are involved in any process, installation or industry. Any other information or document which is necessary in the opinion of the Board for their final disposal of the application.

PUBLIC HEARING DEFINITION

It can be defined as a continuous, two way communication process which involves promoting full public understanding of the processes and mechanisms through which environmental problems and needs are investigated and solved by the responsible agency. Keeping the public fully informed about the status and progress of studies and implications of project, plan, program or policy formulation and evaluation activities, and actively soliciting from all concerned citizens their opinions and perceptions of objectives and needs and their preferences regarding resource use and alternative development strategies and To collect any other information and assistance relative to the decision.

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING

To provide a forum for the proponent to inform the entire community of the outcome of the Environmental Assessment of proposed undertakings; To verify the accuracy of the EIA findings in relation to the situation on the ground; To confirm that all the affected parties and stakeholders have been adequately consulted and have been part of the various decision making processes; To offer the affected and interested parties, as well as other stakeholders, the opportunity to express their opinions on any issues considered outstanding; and To promote effective public participation and ensure confidence in the EIA process as well as support for the proposed undertaking. Take account of the information and views of the public in the EIA and decision making

KEY OBJECTIVES Obtain local and traditional knowledge that may be useful for decision making. Facilitate consideration of alternative, mitigation measures and tradeoffs.

REASONS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS

To inform the public Identify concerns about the proposal Present different viewpoints Pinpoint areas of conflict Foster trust and mutual respect Raise comfort level of decision makers

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE MAIN EIA STAGES

Screening Scoping Impact analysis Mitigation and Impact management EIA report Reviser Decision Making Implementation and Monitoring To monitor the implementation of EIA Report`s recommendations and decision`s conditions. To consider and comment on EIA Report To consult people likely to be affected by proposal. To ensure that significant issues are identified, project related information is gathered, alternatives are considered. To avoid biases/inaccuracies in analysis; identify local values/preferences; assist in consideration of mitigation measures; select best alternative.

Proposal identification EIA required Scoping Impact analysis Mitigation and Impact management Resubmit Redesign Not approved EIA report Review Decision Making Approved Implementation and Post EIA Monitoring Screening Initial environmental examination No EIA

Public involvement *Public involvement typically occurs at these points. It may also occur at any other stage of the EIA process Information from this process contributes to effective EIA in the future

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The State Pollution Control Board shall cause a notice for environmental public hearing which shall be published in at least two news papers widely circulated in the region about the project one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned State Pollution Control Board shall mention the date, time and place of public hearing, suggestions, views, comments, and objections of the public shall be invited within thirty days from the date of publication of the notification. All persons including bonafide residents, environmental groups and others located at the projects site / sites of displacements / sites likely to be affected can participate in the public hearing.

ORGANISATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING

Prior to the holding of public hearing on any given project the following activities are undertaken: the selection of site for the meeting; posting of notices; invitation of stakeholders; selection of panelists; and a reconnaissance trip to the project area of influence. The selection of the proposed site and date for the public hearing is done in close consultation with the proponent, the local authority and the affected communities. It is important to achieve a consensus on the site.

PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC HEARING

For conducting a public hearing, any project proponents has to follow procedure established by law which is prescribed in the Environment Impact Assessment Notification issued under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and rulings of the courts on the same. Procedure: a) The project proponent has to submit to the concerned State Pollution Control Board twenty sets of An Executive summery both in English and in local language Environment Impact Assessment Report b) The notice of public hearing regarding any projects has to be published by the State Pollution Control Board in at least two newspapers widely circulated in the region around the project, one of which shall be in the vernacular language of the locality concerned.

PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC HEARING

c) d) e) State Pollution Control Board is responsible for mentioning the date, and place of public hearing. Thirty days time shall be given from the date of publication of notice for comments and objections of the public. The persons who can participate in the public hearing are Bonafide residents at the project site Environmental groups Other person located at the project site The Public hearing panel must be consist of: Representative of State Pollution Control Board; District Collector or his nominee; Representative of Department of the State Government dealing with Environment; Not more than three representatives of the local bodies such as Municipalities or panchayats; Not more than three senior citizens of the area nominated by the District Collector time

f)

g) The concerned persons shall be provided access to the Executive Summary and Environmental Impact Assessment report of the project at the following places, namely:(i) (ii) (iii) District Collector Office; District Industry Centre; In the Office of the Chief Executive Officers of Zila Praishad or Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation/Local body as the case may be; In the head office of the concerned State Pollution Control Board and its concerned Regional Office; In the concerned Department of the State Government dealing with the subject of environment.

(iv) (v)

PROJECTS EXEMPTED FROM PUBLIC HEARING

Public hearing is not required for the following projects: Small scale industrial undertakings located in a) Notified or designed industrial areas/ industrial estates. b) Areas marked for industries under the jurisdiction of industrial development authorities. Widening and strengthening of highways Mining projects (major minerals) with lease areas upto 25 hectares Units located in export processing zones and special economic zones and Modernization of existing irrigation projects.

Note: Off sore exploration activities beyond 10 km from the nearest inhabited village boundaries and ecologically sensitive areas, such as mangroves ( minimum of 1000sq.m.), corals, coral reefs, national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests and breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life have been proposed by the MOEF to be exempted from the public hearing ).

POINTS TO EXAMINE THAT ANY PUBLIC HEARING IS PROPER OR NOT:

First and foremost thing is whether the notice of the public haring has been given properly or not. The information of the public hearing and availability of the related documents to the villagers of the affected area is prime and foremost requirement of conducting the public hearing. Whether the notice of hearing is published in news paper widely circulated in the area. It has been held by the Gujarat High Court that even publication in news paper of the notice will not suffice the basic purpose for which the public hearing has been contemplated. The Gujarat High Court has held in Case of Center for Social Justice Vs. Union of India and others reported in AIR 2001 Guj 71 that in addition to publication the people of the project affected village should be notified about the publichearing by informing them through concerned Gram Panchayat as the members of the Gram Panchayat would bring it to the notice of local people as normally rural population in India is illiterate and does not read news paper. Thus only publishing the notice in news paper was not sufficient to cause notice to the effect people.

POINTS TO EXAMINE THAT ANY PUBLIC HEARING IS PROPER OR NOT:

Access to the Executive Summary and Environmental Impact Assessment report of the project to the people is important. If the concerned persons has no knowledge of the report then it is not possible for them to effectively place their submission at the public hearing. Whether the place fixed for the public hearing is easily accessible for the villagers and the affected persons.

BENEFITS AND HINDRANCES TO EFFECTIVE PUBLIC HEARING

While it is a statutory requirement within the EIA review process, public hearings have been beneficial in terms of: providing an avenue for public information and interaction between the proponent and all interested groups; allowing people to articulate their views about a given project and make inputs which eventually enhance the quality of the project environmental assessment; leading to social acceptability of projects and promotion of harmonious relationship between the proponent and affected communities; creating confidence in the newly established Ghana EIA (this is evident by the level of participation in these hearings); unearthing issues that may be hidden from the reviewing authority; and resolving conflicts during public meetings since every party is given the opportunity to express concerns before an independent panel.

In spite of these benefits the effectiveness of public hearings have been hampered by

The inability of the affected communities to easily understand project proposals due to the low levels of literacy. It would have been more beneficial if the locals could have a thorough understanding of the EIS to facilitate effective discussions. Lack of understanding has usually led to hostilities during public hearings. The absence of EIA capacity at the District Assembly Level to undertake their own EIS review and to guide their communities to make inputs into EIA Studies. The absence of organized NGOs to assist communities in understanding the issues and in making meaningful comments about a given project.

Public Hearing Notice TAMIL NADU POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD INFORMATION ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION Under EIA Notification, 2006. Details of Public Hearing Scheduled for the projects attracting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. Responses if any may be e-mailed to tnpcb@md3.vsnl.net.in or tnpcb@dataone.in or send to the contact person in writing on or before the public hearing date.

S no

Name and address of the project

Project Details

Date and Time

Venue

Contact Person

Remarks

M/s. Corporation of Chennai - Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility Perungudi Landfill site Survey N.657/1B1, Pallikaranai Village, Tambaram Taluk, Kancheepuram District.

23.03.2010 @ 11.30 A.M.

Raja Kalyana Mandapam Old No. 13, New No. 205, Velacherry Main Road, Velacherry, Chennai-600042.

District Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Maraimalai Nagar, Kancheepuram District .Ph.No.04 -

Click here to view Summary EIA Report [English] [Tamil]

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Project: To establish 1400 Tons Per Day (having 4 streams each of 350 capacity) Municipal Solid Waste Processing Plant for Conversion of MSW to Compost & Refuse Derived Fuel with Sanitary Landfill at Perungudi Dumping Ground in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu as per MSW (Management & Handling) Rules 2000. Technology to be used Integrated MSW processing through Aerobic Biocomposting and RDF for Utilization of short term biodegradables, long-term Biodegradables and Inert processing to eco bricks. Project Implementation by M/s Hydroair Tectonics (PCD) Ltd., Mumbai 116, Raheja Arcade, Sector 11, Plot 61, Belapur, Navi Mumbai 400 614. Tel : 022 27564347 / 27564777.

TECHNOLOGY STATUS

In accordance with Municipal waste Processing and Handling Rules-2000. Also as per the recommendations of Supreme Courts Technical Committee and Inter-Ministerial Task Force under the Ministry of Urban Development, New Delhi. Accelerated Aerobic Bio Conversion under controlled conditions to recover manure & Refuse Derived Fuel from Municipal Solid Waste, with power generation and inert processing to civil bricks.

PROCESSING OPERATION
Waste receiving and processing treatment throughout the year. Segregation, Composting, Fuel pelletisation, Power generation, Marketing, Selling of compost & land filling of the non degradable waste. The activities for development of dumping ground would include clearing of site survey, lighting, pipelines, cables, laying internal roads etc. Gate Control Receiving of waste Pre-sorting into food waste, dry waste, plastic and others. Sanitization treatment, bio-stabilisation and rapid fermentation of short term bio-degradables. Processing of dry waste into RDF Mechanical Processing of fermented biomass for recovery of compost.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COVERED

Control of Mal-odors and toxic gaseous emissions Control of pathogens, flies, rodents and vultures. Control of Dusty Particulate matters Control of Smoke & Fire

TECHNOLOGY RELEVANCE
Triple Eco-friendly It takes care of polluting putrescible matters Processing treatment itself is non-polluting Recover products namely organic manure to help in soil health building and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) as a replacement of fossil fuel.

BENEFITS TO CORPORATION OF CHENNAI

Compliance of MSW rules 2000 & other regulatory aspects Saving of cost on maintenance of disposal site. Increasing the shelf life of waste management site by 6 to 8 folds. Avoiding of public litigation, environmental risks in terms of diseases, mal odors, ground water contamination Ensuring congenial working conditions for conservancy workers & recyclers etc. Avoiding nuisance of garbage to the neighborhoods. Protection of aesthetic value of the city. Conservation of natural resources Project operation in eco friendly manner and in line with national/ international standards. Lesser future problems for capacity enhancement or technological adjustments due to rapid changing waste characteristics. Integration of recovered product usage with national programmes.

ROLE OF PROJECT PROMOTER:

To receive MSW & treat daily on all year round basis. To maintain the site under hygienic conditions & other controls as per regulatory requirements of environment & Pollution Control Board. To produce compost, RDF as & other usable products as per technical committee recommendations & MSW Rule 2000. This will be property of M/s Hydroair Tectonics (PCD) Ltd., Mumbai. Timely preparation & submission of reports to different authorities Maintain records, data & offers facility inspection as and when required with prior notice.

ROLE OF CORPORATION OF CHENNAI

To make available 1400 TPD waste up to the project site on day to day basis To accord permission to use 30 acres of Land for the project. To furnish NOCs for getting service connections like power, water & drainage facilities.

RECOVERED PRODUCTS FROM MSW

Soil friendly compost RDF Plastics/metals/Glass etc. Eco Bricks from Inert Processing

COMPOST AND POTTING MEDIA

Highly useful for improving organic carbon content of soils and supplementation of trace element requirements. The product will be useful in improving the efficiency of fertilizers and conservation of moisture. Compost will be extremely useful as organic soil conditioner.

 RDF GREEN COAL

The lignitic content of MSW having high calorific value will be processed into green coal. This will be supplementing the fuel requirement from other sources. The calorific value of processed green coal will be 3200 to 3800 kcal/kg. Fixed Carbon 10 to 12% Sulfur content <0.70% and ash content of 20 to 25%.

CIVIL BRICKS
Civil bricks and hollow blocks which can be used in compound walls, pedestrian path, public gardens etc.

MSW PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES REQUIREMENT OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Project size : 1400 TPD Total land area required : 30 Acres. Power connection : 1200 HP Water requirement : 1200 KL per day Consumables:
Diesel : @ 1.5 lit / MT of MSW Electricity : @ 5.0 unit MT of MSW Treatment materials: Herbal Sanitiser : @ 50 ml / MT of MSW Bioculture / additives : @ 1.0 kg / MT of MSW

Public Hearing on M/s. Corporation of Chennai - Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility at Perungudi Landfill site Survey N.657/1B1, Pallikaranai Village, Tambaram Taluk, Kancheepuram District. Venue Raja Kalyana Mandapam Old No. 13, New No. 205, Velacherry Main Road, Velacherry, Chennai-600042 Date: 23rd March 2010