Mrudul Godbole
16-11-2010, 08:32 PM
16 NOV, 2010, 01.34PM IST,PTI
Ramesh petitioned against Lafarge plant in Meghalaya
SHILLONG: The proposed mega cement plant in Meghalaya by Lafarge is a threat to numerous cave systems and wildlife and environmental clearance should not be granted to it, a cave research body has petitioned the Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh .
"The Jaintia Hills district (where the plant is proposed) is internationally referred to as Mecca for the cavers of the world. Several caving systems existing in this particular location have been listed in the world map of longest and deepest caves. Proper protection of these subterranean caves must be one of our national regard," National Cave Research and Protection Organization said in the petition yestrday.
Urging that the Centre consider the facts before taking any decision on the environmental clearance, it said "We are not even aware of two per cent subterranean biodiversity abiding in these caves but we are leaving them to get extinct.
The proposed plant site is very close to Narpuh and Saipung reserve forests and the noise and dust pollution from the proposed plant would be a threat to the wildlife there, the petition signed by the organization's president Jayant Biswas said.
Besides, the contaminated water to be discharged by the plant would lead to degradation of the land known for good rice productivity, it said.
There were already a number of cement plants in the district which flout norms, it added.
Earlier, Lafarge had said the apprehensions raised about the environmental impact of the project are 'premature' and 'unfounded'.
The project would maintain the highest standards of environmental protection and use scientific mining techniques as per the best international practices. Besides, the project would not progress without conducting a proper environmental impact assessment and obtaining all statutory clearances, the French company had said in a statement.
Lafarge India Eastern Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lafarge India Pvt Ltd, had got a single window clearance from Meghalaya government for it's proposed 1.1 mt integrated cement plant at Nongkhlei in the limestone rich Jaintia Hills district.
At an estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore - the project will be one of the biggest private sector investment in the region, company sources say.
The French company's limestone mining project in the state is shut since February following an apex court order on a petition filed by an NGO alleging that Lafarge's mining activities violated the constitutional provision against handing over tribal land in the northeast to non-tribals.
It had also alleged that the company had obtained environmental clearance by falsely showing thickly forested land as wasteland.
Article at - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/cement/Ramesh-petitioned-against-Lafarge-plant-in-Meghalaya/articleshow/6935021.cms
Ramesh petitioned against Lafarge plant in Meghalaya
SHILLONG: The proposed mega cement plant in Meghalaya by Lafarge is a threat to numerous cave systems and wildlife and environmental clearance should not be granted to it, a cave research body has petitioned the Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh .
"The Jaintia Hills district (where the plant is proposed) is internationally referred to as Mecca for the cavers of the world. Several caving systems existing in this particular location have been listed in the world map of longest and deepest caves. Proper protection of these subterranean caves must be one of our national regard," National Cave Research and Protection Organization said in the petition yestrday.
Urging that the Centre consider the facts before taking any decision on the environmental clearance, it said "We are not even aware of two per cent subterranean biodiversity abiding in these caves but we are leaving them to get extinct.
The proposed plant site is very close to Narpuh and Saipung reserve forests and the noise and dust pollution from the proposed plant would be a threat to the wildlife there, the petition signed by the organization's president Jayant Biswas said.
Besides, the contaminated water to be discharged by the plant would lead to degradation of the land known for good rice productivity, it said.
There were already a number of cement plants in the district which flout norms, it added.
Earlier, Lafarge had said the apprehensions raised about the environmental impact of the project are 'premature' and 'unfounded'.
The project would maintain the highest standards of environmental protection and use scientific mining techniques as per the best international practices. Besides, the project would not progress without conducting a proper environmental impact assessment and obtaining all statutory clearances, the French company had said in a statement.
Lafarge India Eastern Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lafarge India Pvt Ltd, had got a single window clearance from Meghalaya government for it's proposed 1.1 mt integrated cement plant at Nongkhlei in the limestone rich Jaintia Hills district.
At an estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore - the project will be one of the biggest private sector investment in the region, company sources say.
The French company's limestone mining project in the state is shut since February following an apex court order on a petition filed by an NGO alleging that Lafarge's mining activities violated the constitutional provision against handing over tribal land in the northeast to non-tribals.
It had also alleged that the company had obtained environmental clearance by falsely showing thickly forested land as wasteland.
Article at - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/cement/Ramesh-petitioned-against-Lafarge-plant-in-Meghalaya/articleshow/6935021.cms