UltraTech gets green nod for expansion of Maharashtra plant

The expansion will entail an investment of Rs 248 crore

Aditya Birla Group flagship UltraTech Cement has got Environment Ministry's clearance to expand capacity at its Awarpur plant in Maharasthra, which would entail an investment of Rs 248 crore.

The company has proposed to raise production of clinker, a raw material for cement manufacture, to 4.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the existing 3.30 MTPA, and increase cement output to 6 MTPA from 4.48 MTPA.

It was in December 2014 that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry had examined UltraTech Cement's proposal and suggested green clearance.

"Based on the EAC recommendation, the Environment Ministry granted the final EC subject to certain conditions. The EC was issued to the company on September 11," a senior Environment Ministry official said.

The company has been asked to comply with specific conditions like developing green belt over 33% of the total project area, installing air monitoring devices to monitor air emission, continuous stack monitoring of facilities to monitor gaseous emissions, among others.

The company has also been asked to earmark at least 5% of the total cost of the project towards enterprise social commitment and prepare a detailed CSR plan for every five years for the existing-cum-expansion project.

UltraTech Cement has informed the Ministry that the proposed expansion will be carried out within the existing plant area of 307.35 hectare. The additional power required for the proposed expansion will be 5.1 MW.

The company has 12 integrated cement manufacturing plants in India and is the single largest cement maker in the country with an annual capacity of 63 million tonnes.