M A I N   N E W S

Hyper drive of cement plants clouds green HP
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

THE AFTER-EFFECTS

Negative Air pollution: n About 8,000 trucks are engaged at the existing four cement plants n Another 10,000 trucks will be required for the 4 plants that are in the pipeline Traffic congestion: n Most hit will be Darlaghat, Bilaspur and Karsog areas where two plants already exist and two more are coming up Hills’ defacement: n 1,365 hectare of land, including 819 hectares of forest land, has been given for mining to the 4 existing plants n 2,766 hectares has been okayed for the 4 new plants Positive Employment avenues: n A two million capacity plant generates jobs for 400-500 persons and indirect employment to 3,500-4,000 persons Revenue aspect: n Every plant fetches about Rs 15 crore as royalty and about Rs 100 crore by way of taxes

Shimla, December 6
The professed goal of making Himachal a global tourist destination notwithstanding, the apple state is on its way to becoming the cement bowl of the country with all the proved deposits of limestone allotted to private companies for setting up plants.

Despite all the hue and cry being raised by the conservationists and a few politicians, successive governments have been pursuing the contradictory policy of promoting eco-friendly tourism industry and cement plants, which cause colossal damage to the environment.

The government, which sees ‘grey gold’ in the limestone deposits, does not want to sacrifice the polluting industry, despite its taking a toll on the fragile hill environment and may ultimately spell doom for the tourism industry.

The state already has four big cement projects — Barmana (ACC), Darlaghat (Ambuja), Rajban (CCI) and Bagha (Jaypee). The aggregate capacity is 10.66 million tonne. Besides, four projects are in the pipeline — Sundernagar, Al Sindi (both in Mandi), Broh-Shind (Chamba) and Chopal (Shimla). They would produce additional 7.27 million tonne.

That the government is in undue haste to exploit its limestone reserves is evident from the fact that it has even given prospecting licence for the limestone deposits for the Kariyali-Kothi-Salbagh cement project in Shimla to Dalmia industries.

For its part, the government claims that the cement plants have been made a “non-polluting” industry with the advent of modern glass bag filter technology for containing emissions. The technique, they claim, even arrested particles as small as 30 micron. The technique may hold back dust and smoke emissions, but large-scale mining and the heavy load of vehicular traffic still remain issues of concern, both contradicting the government proposals to make the state “carbon neutral”.

Notably, a two million-tonne capacity plant generates work for about 2,000 trucks, which serve as mobile polluters. Presently, about 8,000 trucks are engaged in the transportation of cement in the existing plants. And the new cement plants will require about 10,000 trucks. Once all the plants start functioning, the traffic scenario on the roads would be anybody’s guess. The most hit would be Darlaghat, Bilaspur and Karsog areas where two plants already exist and two more are in the pipeline.

The problem could have been solved to some extent if the Rs 1,048-crore Bhanupali-Bilaspur rail project, hanging fire for the past over 15 years, took shape. Then, mining is a serious environmental hazard, which not only renders the hills prone to soil erosion but also defaces them. Till date, 1,365 hectare of land, including 819 hectares of forest land, has been okayed for mining activity to the four plants already in operation. The four upcoming plants will involve mining over additional 2,766 hectare.

And worse, the government has not provided adequate staff to effectively regulate mining.

The only positive aspect is that cement plants generate employment and bring revenue to the government. A two million capacity plant generates direct employment for 400-500 persons and indirect employment to about 3,500-4,000 persons. Every plant fetches about Rs 15 crore as royalty and about Rs 100 crore by way of taxes. The revenue from mining alone has increased from Rs 48 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 85 crore, out of which cement pants fetched Rs 50 crore, in the last financial year. The figure will cross Rs 200 crore after all the sanctioned plants are commissioned.