Ambuja Cements keeps limestone mining in abeyance in HP

Ambuja Cements today said its limestone mining operation in Himachal Pradesh has been kept in abeyance following a notice from the Environment and Forest Ministry, but cement production remained unaffected.
"... A notice received from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, mining operation at the company's Himachal Pradesh plants has been kept in abeyance," Ambuja Cements, which is controlled by Swiss major Holcim, said in a BSE filing.
The company has five million tonnes per annum (MTPA) limestone mining capacity in Himachal Pradesh.
While complying with the notice, the company is exploring making representation to the concerned authority and taking all measures for withdrawal of the said notice including the recourse, if necessary, to legal remedies, it said.

Ambuja Cements, which has 27.25 MTPA capacity now, said clinker production at the company's Darlaghat plant has been stopped temporarily till the abeyance was lifted. The plant is one of the integrated plants that the company has now.
But, cement production and dispatches were unaffected with the help of available clinker inventory. It also plans to mobilise clinker from its other plants, associate firms and market to ensure uninterrupted supply of cement in the market.