MoEF gives clearance to Lafarge mining, Bangladesh
The ministry of forest and environment (MoEF) on Friday gave the greenlight to Lafarge for limestone mining in Meghalaya for its cement plant in Bangladesh. However, the company must meet a series of conditions which would see them paying some Rs100 crore.
The forest and environment clearance for the mining, to which as many as 31 conditions were attached, was conveyed to the Supreme Court on Friday by the MoEF through an affidavit filed by standing counsel Haris Beeren.
The key conditions relate to payment of money for afforestation activities in twice the area under mining and creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for development of the area around the mines, from which the limestone is transported to the plant at Chhatak through a conveyor belt.
MoEF said Lafarge Umiam Minint Pvt has to pay five times the normal afforestation cost working out to Rs55 crore with an interest of 9% from April 1, 2007. This would amount to nearly Rs 70 crore taking into account the interest component.
Added to this, the mining company has to pay Rs 90 per tonne of the mined mineral since the commencement of mining.
Published under Cement News
