Reports indicate that plans for an Rs.8 billion cement plant in Himachal Pradesh have been cancelled. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the state government and Jaiprakash Associates back in February 2007 for a 2 million tpa plant to be operational within five years. In the intervening time the project has failed to gain the required clearances to begin work and so the state government has cancelled the agreement. Reportedly, the company – along with several others – was issued a ‘show cause’ notice some time ago to justify the delay in starting the project, but the cabinet deemed the response unsatisfactory.
Part one of this overview by the National Council for Cement Building Materials introduces the Environmental Acts/Regulations governing the Indian cement industry.
Data shows that merger and acquisition in India’s cement industry is bucking the national trend, with seven deals totalling US$3.3 billion so far this year.