Local people show strong opposition to Lafarge cement plant in Himachal

On 23rd June 2010, the Chairman of the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) made a visit to the Lafarge Cement and Limestone Mines project site in order to assess the feasibility of the Environment Clearance granted to the project last year on 8th June 2009. The Environment Clearance to the project has been challenged by two separate petitioners, Pratap Singh Thakur and Ganga Singh Thakur who have filed their appeals, challenging the Environment Clearance, with the NEAA. The most critical argument being made by the petitioners is that the negative socio economic and environmental impacts of the project have been completely overlooked by the Environment Impact Assessment Report and the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s ‘Expert Advisory Committee’ while recommending clearance to Rs. 900 crore, 3 MTPA greenfield project.Read Full Story