Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 2: With problems cropping up at six vital points in 4-laning of Jammu-Udhampur Section of National Highway 1A, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has knocked the doors of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest seeking waiving of the no blasting condition laid down by the Committee while according environmental clearance for the project.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that while according environmental clearance for the 4-laning of Jammu-Udhampur Section of the National Highway 1A vide letter F.No.10-4/2010-IA.III dated August 31, 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had laid a specific condition that there shall be no blasting of rocks.
However, while executing the 4-laning project from Jammu Bypass (15-kilometer milestone) to Udhampur (67 kilometer milestone) on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the National Highway Authority of India started facing problems in carrying out works at six vital points because of large size hard rocks and boulders, where controlled blasting is unavoidable.
Accordingly, the NHAI approached the Expert Appraisal Committee on CRZ, Infrastructure and Miscellaneous Projects with the plea that at six locations rocks comprise of granite and sandstone, which are semi-hard to hard in nature and without carrying blasting it was not possible to accomplish the 4-laning works at these locations, sources said.
The Expert Appraisal Committee, in its meeting held on September 19-21, 2012 considered the request of NHAI for waiving the condition No.XVII in the environment clearance. In the meeting, the EAC was informed that wildlife sanctuaries areas are located at more than 15 kilometer distance from the proposed controlled blasting locations and the controlled blasting will be restricted during day time only.
Moreover, it was also pleaded before the EAC that the tunnels will be constructed on the basis of controlled blasting technique method by NATM and no electric detonators and pre-splitting controlled blasting technique will be used to achieve significant reduction of ground vibrations, noise, air blast and reduction of over-break and fly rocks.
After detailed deliberation on the request of NHAI, the EAC deferred the project with the direction to the project proponent to give undertakings on certain points identified by the Committee for its consideration before final decision, sources said.
“Now, the NHAI has given undertakings that habitation within 1 kilometer will be evacuated to safe location during the period of blasting and rehabilitated back to own premises. Moreover, if there will be any damage to their properties, NHAI will compensate 100% under the notice of local authority”, sources informed, adding “the NHAI has also furnished undertaking with regard to obtaining all necessary clearance for carrying out blasting from the competent authority and no blasting will be carried out within 10 kilometer periphery of any protected area and within 1 kilometer of any sensitive receptor”.
The NHAI has also submitted locations of blasting sites on a latest Google map and brief write up on blasting plan, likely impacts and proposed mitigation measures, sources said while disclosing that the EAC will now take up the case in its meeting to be held on November 8-9, 2012.
When contacted, Project Director NHAI confirmed that undertakings have been furnished to the Expert Appraisal Committee, which will take up the request for waiving no blasting condition on November 8-9, 2012. “The mitigation and safety measures will be strictly followed for controlled blasting as per guidelines at identified six locations”, he added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel