Nirma Ltd has received conditional approval from the Gujarat High Court to construct its Rs.1400 crore cement plant at Mahua, which has been challenged by local farmers due to its environmental impact.
A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi recently ordered Nirma to return 46 ha of land to the state government; however, the court clarified that this does not encompass the canals within the area, which Nirma is forbidden to use for the cement plant. Nirma must also ensure that this water does not become polluted. So far the company has returned 54 of the 100 ha area of land that is being disputed.
Contention with the plant arose from the fact that 222 of the 268 ha that Nirma plans to use is part of a water body.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/27042010/nirma_ltd_receives_court_approval_to_construct_cement_plant/