Alsindi cement plant runs into rough weather

Shimla The Rs 900 crore Integrated Cement Project, being set up by the multinational Lafarge India at Alsindi in Karsog, has run into rough weather with the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) quashing the environment clearance granted in June 2009.
The environment clearance to the 3 million tonne capacity project has been challenged by two separate petitioners—Pratap Singh Thakur and Ganga Singh Thakur—on the ground that the negative socio-economic and environmental impact of the project was overlooked.A team of the NEAA, headed by JC Kala, had visited the site of the cement plant and the associated limestone mines in June early this year to assess feasibility of the environment clearance granted to the project last year.“The dispossession, impoverishment and trauma attached to displacement have neither been captured by the Environment Impact Assessment nor appreciated by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) or the state government,” says the order.It further takes note that the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary is less than 5 km from the project site and could have possible impact on the wildlife.The authority, after viewing the CD of the public hearing, observed that the concluding recommendations of the ADM in the minutes of the meeting were uncalled for.

“The authority is convinced that on environmental and social considerations, it is neither desirable to mine the Telehan village, nor to put up a cement plant at

Ghanger. Both the EAC and the ministry have not correctly assessed the impact of the project on land, water and air and failed to appreciate its effects on the livelihood of people of the area,” it stated.

The company maintains that the committee had not found any irregularities or violations of environment norms. The reservation of the authority is regarding the suitability of the area as a whole but cement plant could be set up only where the limestone deposits are located. The local panchayats and other institutional bodies have supported the project. It is confident that the issue will be settled and the plant will come up.

The company had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government for setting up the project in March 2007 and the latest development has put a question mark over its future. Even if it manages to obtain environment clearance afresh, the project will be further delayed.