| The Himachal Pradesh government today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jaiprakash Industries Associates Ltd (Jaypee) for setting up the Rs 800-crore Broh Shind cement plant in the Chamba Valley.
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| According to the deal, the plant will have a 2-million-tonne cement capacity per annum and will become operational in five years of getting environment clearances from the Union environment ministry. The MoU was signed by Prem Kumar, secretary, industries, Himachal Pradesh government, and Manoj Gaur, executive chairperson, Jaypee.
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| “The plant will generate around 1,000 direct jobs, besides 5,000 indirect jobs. Also, one means of employment will be provided to every displaced family,” said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
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| “Latest environment pollution control technology will be adopted by the company,” said Gaur.
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| “Jaypee has so far invested over Rs 10,000 crore in Himachal, mainly in the hydel, education and cement sectors. It is looking for more partnerships with the state government,” Gaur said.
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| Two multinational cement companies as well as ten other Indian companies had bid for the Broh Shind plant. French firm Lafarge and German firm Heidelberg were the two global giants in the fray, along with Indian players like the Jaypee group, Ambuja Cement, ACC, Dalmia, Grasim, and Saurashtra Cement.
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| Jaypee is setting up another cement plant in the state. And so are ACC and Grasim. The proposed 300-hectare site, located at the Broh Shind Dhar limestone belt in the Chamba Valley’s Churah region, is around 450 km from here.
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| For 11 years the proposed plant remained allotted to Larsen and Toubro (L&T), which, without signing the lease deal, got the allotment transferred in the name of Ultratech, a sister concern.
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| Despite the state government repeatedly extending the date for signing the MoU, work on the plant did not start.
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| As a result, two years ago, the state government cancelled the deal with L&T and fresh bids for the plant were invited. |
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