The Live Ahmedabad
  • Home
  • Ahd City
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Featured

The Live Ahmedabad

  • Home
  • Ahd City
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Featured
Ahmedabad City

Limestone mining: NGT denies Ultratech, NCC approval in Amreli

by TLAteam February 24, 2022February 24, 2022
written by TLAteam February 24, 2022February 24, 2022
Limestone mining: NGT denies Ultratech, NCC approval in Amreli

A western zone bench of the National Green Tribunal has denied two environmental clearance (EC) certificates issued by the Gujarat State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) in 2020 to Ultratech Cement Limited and its subsidiary Narmada Cement Company (NCC) Limited for limestone mining at Babarkot village in Amreli’s Jafrabad.

“The area being more than 50 hectares has to be treated as category ‘A’ project, requiring appraisal only by MoEF&CC. Even if the two are taken as separate, it is expansion of an existing project in which case also it has to be appraised by MoEF&CC, even if it is less than 50 hectares,” the bench stated.

The decision came in response to two appeals that claimed the EC grant was illegal because the mines covered more than 50 hectares. The mines were split into two, according to the appellant, in order to avoid Category-A classification while seeking environmental clearance.

In addition, the two companies already have a mining lease for 565.93 hectares in the same area.

One mine covers 49.84 hectares, while the other covers 14.20 hectares.

The appeal also stated that environmental clearance was granted without following the due process of law in an eco-sensitive area, also a habitat of Asiatic lions, with no Wildlife Conservation Plan. The appraisal of the projects “should have been as a ‘cluster’ instead of standalone mines”, the appeal further stated.

The tribunal had, in June 30, 2021, appointed an eight-member joint fact-finding committee, comprising three nominees of MoEFCC, a nominee of chairman SEIAA Gujarat, nominees of CPCB, GPCB, chief wildlife warden of Gujarat and Amreli district magistrate, to undertake a visit to the site and interact with stakeholders, and furnish a factual and action-taken report in the matter.

Ultratech Cement and NCC had opposed this saying no such committee inspection was required as the environmental clearance in question was valid.

The tribunal, in its order, also relied on the fact-finding committee’s submission that while the two mines were separated by a 600-metre stretch, the existing mine and the 49.84 hectare mine were sharing a common boundary.

Hence, the NGT bench concluded that “the mining area in question is an integral part of the total mining area, which is more than 50 hectares” and hence, the “two mining leases together are of more than 50 hectares and cannot be treated as standalone for purposes of EIA (Environment Impact Assessment).”

The five-member bench, in its order dated February 21, also noted that the ministry should specify the norms on “appraisal of mining clusters in respect of major minerals, as the guidelines laid down in the notification dated 14.08.2018 are confined to minor minerals”. 

The court stated that this would aid in defining the clusters in terms of distance between the two mines. “The guidelines may also address the grievance that project proponents split up the mining projects to defeat the mandate of law, so as to avoid appraisal in the manner laid down in the EIA Notification. The guidelines may also provide for the role of SEIAA and the district mining authorities in safeguarding this aspect in the discharge of their functions.”

amreliGujaratGujarat news
0 comment
previous post
Bhavnagar private firm chairman held in Rs 762 cr GST Fraud
next post
Gujarat govt began distributing smartphone subsidy to farmers

You may also like

Taco Bell employee assaulted outside Palladium Mall

May 22, 2025

Sambar Café to organise Mango Madness, a celebration of...

May 22, 2025

Fire breaks out at Purvi Tower in Gurukul,

May 22, 2025

Ahmedabad Police Issue Traffic Advisory, Metro Timings Extended...

May 22, 2025

Ahmedabad Youth Show ‘Operation Sindoor’ Tattoos

May 21, 2025

Final Phase of Demolition Begins at Chandola Lake

May 20, 2025

Ahmedabad Roads Crumble Ahead of Early Monsoon; AMC’s...

May 19, 2025

New one-way routes near Kankaria

May 19, 2025

Ahmedabad-Diu direct flight launched 

May 17, 2025

Three Workers Die After Inhaling Toxic Gas During...

May 17, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Ahmedabad Weekend Guide: Concerts, Plays, Films & More to Soak in the Summer Vibe

    May 22, 2025
  • Sensex Drops 600+ Points, Nifty 50 Closes Near 24,600: Key Reasons Behind Today’s Market Fall

    May 22, 2025
  •  Dr Jayant Narlikar’s MSU connection

    May 22, 2025
  • Taco Bell employee assaulted outside Palladium Mall

    May 22, 2025
  • Sambar Café to organise Mango Madness, a celebration of mango-inspired South Indian delicacies

    May 22, 2025
February 2022
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28
« Jan Mar »
Footer Logo
  • Home
  • Ahd City
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Crime
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Featured
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise with Us
  • Work With Us
  • Contact Us

© 2021 - The Live Ahmedabad. All Rights Reserved.