chapter - 1 introduction - Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board

Hills Cement Co. Limited.
4.8 SAFETY AND SECURITY
Barbed wire fencing is proposed around the proposed excavation to check
the inadvertent entry of human and livestock in the mining area. Security
personal shall be deployed for watch and ward duty. The watchman will not
allow any unauthorized person and livestock near the deep cuttings of the
proposed workings. The safe workings are proposed in the supervision of
technical and qualified supervisory staff. Safety measures will be provided as
per Mines Act.
4.9 FLORA AND FAUNA
There is no forest area, wildlife sanctuary in the study area. The site is
covered with grass, bushes & few trees. No endangered or rare species are
reported or observed in the study area. Also there is no significant aquatic
body within the study area. The proposed land was unutilized.
Construction of plants or operations of mines in nearby areas will not involve
in clearance of major flora. The impact on fauna is also negligible.
4.10 SEISMICITY
The region is one of the well-known seismically active regions and falls under
Zone V. The study area has experienced two largest earthquakes.
• 12 June 1897 (mag 8.7)
• 15 August 1950 (mag 8.5)
Both these earthquakes are reported to occur causing widespread damage.
The epicenter of the earthquake in 12 June 1897 occurred at Shillong massif
while the 1950 earthquake has its epicenter further Northeast.
The most commendable scientific evidence for the high seismicity is
attributed to the tectonic features of the Northeast. The Northeast region is
very close to the junction of Himalayan and the Burmese arcs which bear
resemblance to that of Pamir Knot at the other extreme corner of the
Himalayas.
Shillong plateau of Archaean shied of an altitude about 2 km has been
affected by several large earthquakes. The western and the northern
boundaries of the plateau follow the Brahmputra river. On the southern
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