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The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has proposed to exempt “standalone cement grinding unit without captive power plant” from the requirement of prior environmental clearance, as per its draft notification issued on September 26.
If approved, this will likely make it easier for the Adani Group to go ahead with its proposed Rs 1,400-crore 6-MMTPA (million metric tonne per annum) cement grinding plant in Kalyan, a city which is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The plant, which belongs to Ambuja Cement Ltd, an Adani Group company, has been facing stiff resistance from locals in Mohone village and 10 other villages near Kalyan, The Indian Express had first reported on September 15.
At a public hearing for the plant the day after by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), citizens strongly opposed the cement plant citing health and environment concerns and questioned how the government could allow it in a densely populated city.
Among the key concerns flagged were dust and gas emissions including “particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.”
However, the draft notification, obviates the need to undertake Public Consultation and detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, by arguing that standalone grinding units have a lower pollution potential but are still subjected to a regulatory and monitoring regime similar to that of integrated cement plants, resulting in “disproportionate” compliance obligations.
For example, officials argue, the proposed standalone grinding unit (without captive power plant) does not undertake “calcination” and “clinkerization” – both high-temperature processes (the former to heat raw materials, the latter breaks down cement into smaller pieces) in the manufacture of cement. This means it will have lower carbon emissions, reduced waste generation (as compared to a cement plant) and energy consumption (due to absence of these high-temperature processes).
In addition, transportation of raw materials and finished products via Railways and/or E-Vehicles or a combination of both further reduces the pollution potential.
Residents fear the plant’s dust, gas emissions will adversely affect the densely populated city. Centre’s new rules say because the unit doesn’t have a captive power plant and won’t have key heating processes, it will be less polluting.
According to the draft notification, the matter was examined by the concerned Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and it was “after due deliberation” that the EAC recommended that such standalone units with transportation of raw materials and finished products via Railways and/or E-Vehicles can be considered for exemption from the requirement of prior Environmental Clearance. “The committee observed that the exemption will encourage green logistics and environmental governance,” the draft notification said.
The Indian Express sent a mail seeking response from the Adani Group and the Union Environment Ministry but did not elicit any response.
Sources said the plant stands in front of the Ambivli Railway station, and hence it was likely that all raw materials were being transported via rail.
The comments and objections to the said draft can be sent in 60 days since the notification date. Once approved, it will be a part of the 2006 EIA notification that requires projects to obtain EC.
Subhash Patil, president of the Gramastha Mandal Mohone Koliwada, an organisation which has been protesting against the plant, said the villagers were not yet aware of any such notification issued by the Centre.
“I don’t think it is a good move by the government. We will go through it and collectively decide how to move further,” he said.
An official from the MPCB confirmed that the draft notification has been issued by the Union Ministry. “People can send their objections or suggestions on this draft and once the period of 60 days is over, a final call will be taken. We will act as per the rules,” the official said.
As per the executive summary for public hearing of the said project, total land for the proposed project is 26.13 hectares, out of which 9.67 ha is earmarked for green belt development and 5.49 ha for installation of grinding unit, storage facilities and packing plant.
The property is set to harbour a 2×3 MMTPA (6.0 MMTPA) cement grinding plant at a cost of around Rs 1,400 crore. The project is being planned at the erstwhile National Rayon Company (NRC).
The NRC was established in 1945 in Ambivli near Titwala on around 450 acres of land. Back then it was on the outskirts of Mumbai, which led to the establishment of a staff colony, school, hospital and other amenities.
The company stopped production in 2006 and the lockout was put in place in 2009. The dispute erupted between the labour union and the company over non-payment of dues that still continues. After a prolonged battle in the NCLT, the Adani Group acquired the entire property of the NRC in 2020.
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