Before starting excavating, it may be necessary to investigate the following:

– Contamination of the soil from earlier production or landfill sites.

– Any earlier excavations in connection with supply pipes or other facilities.

– Particular attention to whether there are any installations in the ground. There may be gas pipes, electricity cables or communication cables.

– Permission to excavate from the municipal authorities.

It may be necessary to undertake surveys of the soil before starting excavation work, e.g. if there is a contamination of soil, and if so to what extent.

When planning excavation work, specific conditions may require preparation of an emergency contingency plan. Here, the necessary equipment must be available. This may include pumps, ladders, additional reinforcement materials, respiratory protection and special workwear if there is any risk of encountering contamination.

Quarry Planning

The development of quarries, particularly on a scale or in a location that would
necessitate environmental impact assessment, has the potential to create
environmental impacts. Its day-to-day operations will affect the lives of adjoining communities, perhaps for many years. Aggregate workings can bring jobs and economic prosperity to the area, but they can also arouse environmental concerns.

It is important, therefore, that quarry owners and operators understand these concerns and seek to address them from the outset in an open and accessible way. Consultation helps local people to understand how the proposed development will affect them, and how the developer will operate to the highest possible environmental standards. Adoption of a formal ‘good neighbour’ policy by quarry owners and operators is essential to winning the support of the community for the continued operation or expansion of existing quarries and for any future plans for the development of new quarries.

Practical ways of building good relationships with the local community include:

– Consultation with the local community at the pre-application stage

– Giving details of a proposed planning application prior to lodgement and making copies of the non-technical summary of any Environmental Impact Statement freely available locally

– Appointing a specific staff member to deal with queries and complaints from neighbours. All complaints should be logged and followed up. Larger quarry developments should consider the establishment of Environmental Monitoring Committees, especially where there are likely to be significant effects on local communities arising from the quarry and/or ancillary processing facilities

– Ensuring that all environmental monitoring data is made available to local people at regular intervals (e.g. through the local planning authority offices) and that any divergences from performance standards should be fully
explained, together with any necessary preventative or remedial measures.

Uttam Blastech’s services in Quarry Planning:

–  Planning scientifically, as often the nearest quarry source gets overlooked under the overburden.

–  Advising of quarry areas nearest to the point of consumption suitable to produce the desired volume of aggregates.

–  Providing overall planning to realize the desired quality output within budget constraints.

Case Study Of RMC Ready Mix:

Project Details

Client Name: RMC Ready Mix India Ltd

Location: Sonnappanahalli village, Bangalore, Karnataka

Objective/Challenge

– To operate a quarry next to the village.

– To feed a 300 Tons Per Hour crusher from Quarry not even producing a days requirement.

Approach

• When Uttam took up the quarrying contract for RMC, the first thing that was done was to develop the proper benches in the mine and use controlled blasting.
• Each blast was monitored for vibrations and noise produced to ensure that vibrations and noise generated in the blasting are within the prescribed limits.
• To feed a 300 Tons Per Hour crusher from Quarry not even producing a days requirement.

End Result

– Machinery Deployed

– Here is the result in fortnight wise production (on single shift basis)

Case Study 2:

Project Details

Client Name: Name withheld on request.

Location: Idukki District, Kerala

Objective:

– Know the value of the Mineral and the true value of Quarry Land and thus understand the financial risks of acquisition.

– Kerala ‘gods own country, with rich climate, fertile soil, 100% literacy and plantations and costly land.

– A perfect recipe to go wrong if not cautious in selecting quarrying land.

– A quarry owner wanted to acquire neighbouring property to expand his quarry land. This land was in rubber plantations and very costly.

Approach to Estimate

– The Over Burden

– Total geological reserve

– Minable reserves