According to reports, India’s Environment Ministry has granted Ultratech Cement, the Aditya Birla group flagship, clearance to expand capacity at its Awarpur plant in Maharasthra. It will be an investment of RS.248 crore, with the company proposing to raise clinker production from 3.3 million tpy to 4.5 million tpy, and to increase cement output from 4.48 million tpy to 6 million tpy.
Having examined Ultratech Cement’s proposal in December 2014, the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry suggested green clearance, leading the Environment Ministry to grant clearance subject to certain conditions. Ultratech Cement will be required to develop green belt in over 33% of the total project area, install air monitoring devices to monitor air emission, and continuous stark monitoring facilities to monitor gaseous emissions, amongst others.
Ultratech Cement must also earmark at least 5% of the total cost of the expansion towards enterprise social commitment and prepare a detailed CSP plan for every five years of the existing-cum-expansion project.
The expansion is to be carried out within the existing 307.35-hectare plant area with the additional power requirements being 5.1 MW.
Edited from various sources by Rebecca Bowden
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