Centre’s relief for 2 cement plants

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 27

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has exempted two cement plants lying in the Darlaghat area from being included in the eco-sensitive zone of the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary notified on June 7.

The notification, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, has defined an area lying within an extent ranging from 0 metres to 2 km around the boundary of the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary as the eco-sensitive zone.

Since activities like commercial mining , stone quarrying and crushing units would be prohibited within this zone, the two key cement units - Ultra Tech Cement Limited and Ambuja Cements Limited - have heaved a sigh of relief as their area has not been included under this zone.

It was, however, interesting to note that cement units had been allowed to come up in the precincts of the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary despite being polluting in nature and now pollution-causing industries will be prohibited in the eco-sensitive zones.

As per the notification, 17 villages have been included under this zone which include Mindraj, Jammu, Daund, Saryali, Changadyati, Paarli Dhar, Warli Dhar, Banauni, Ruddal, Sewra, Pariab, Toon Badhar, Jandoi, Sakor, Chamrol Bala, Bughar and Jandrehr.

Developmental activities will be regulated while some will be prohibited in these areas after preparation of a zonal master plan. Setting up of new industries causing air, water, noise and soil pollution will be strictly prohibited.

The state government will have to prepare this zonal master plan within a period of two years in consultation with the locals after adhering to the stipulations listed by the ministry.

RS Jaswal, Divisional Forest Officer, Kunihar, while confirming the news said the two cement plants had been excluded from the purview of the newly constituted eco-sensitive zone and added that a zonal master plan will have to be prepared enlisting the permissible activities as per the directions laid down in the notification.

The master plan is supposed to take into consideration the environmental stipulations and officials of various departments like Environment, Forest, Urban Development, Tourism, Municipal Committee, Revenue, Agriculture, Irrigation, Public Works Department and the State Pollution Control Board are supposed to be consulted.

While there will be no restriction in the existing land use, it would suggest measures to restore denuded areas, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of local community and such other aspects of the ecology and environment that need attention.

The vehicular movement of traffic shall also be regulated in a habitat friendly manner in the zone and specific provisions in this regard shall be incorporated in the zonal master plan. A

monitoring committee will monitor compliance of vehicular movement under the relevant acts till the plan is finalised. With movement of thousands plying from the two cement plants often causing traffic snarls, it remains to be seen how this key problem can be regulated in the area.

The notification

• The notification has defined an area within an extent ranging from 0 metres to 2 km around the boundary of the Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary as eco-sensitive zone
• Since activities like commercial mining, stone quarrying and crushing units will be prohibited in this zone, the two key cement units - Ultra Tech Cement Limited and Ambuja Cements Limited - have heaved a sigh of relief as their area has not been included under this zone