Amid people’s resistance across the state against upcoming cement plants, the state government has paced up efforts for yet another cement plant in the state at Chopal tehsil of Shimla district. The government has re-advertised the limestone quarry site at Chopal that was earlier allotted to Indorama Cement Limited (in joint venture with HeidelbergCement of Germany), which failed to come up with preliminary work on the site within the stipulated time of three years.

The 25 square kilometres quarrying site for limestone, shale and quartzite for the prospective cement plant in Chopal was re-advertised by the industries department on September 13, said a senior official. The interested company will be initially granted a ‘prospecting licence’ of three years.

The limestone quarry site is located at Sugrathi, Thangar, Kura Khera, Pauli Kehra, Kandal and Badera villages of Chopal in the interiors of Shimla district. According to reports, poor road connectivity to the area was one of the reasons why Indorama could not start work on the plant.
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