Lafarge limestone project in Meghalaya gets SC nod

The Supreme Court today overruled appeals against French cement-maker Lafarge's plan to mine limestone in the forests of the East Khasi hills in Meghalaya, saying the project could go ahead since it had got the required environment clearances.

A special forest bench headed by chief justice S H Kapadia upheld the revised environmental  clearances given to Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt Ltd, the Indian venture of the French company, by the ministry of environment and forests, saying, "We are satisfied with the MoEF as it has  taken a due diligence exercise."   

The bench further said there was no reason to go into the two environmental clearances given by the MoEF.

The court had reserved its judgement on 10 May after hearing all the parties involved over the revised environmental clearance given to Lafarge for mining in the forest. The project is being opposed by environmentalists and the people of Shella village, who claim to be in the radius of the mines.

The apex court had on 5 February 2010, stopped Lafarge from carrying out limestone mining in the area for its cement plant, saying mining in the environmentally-sensitive zone could not be allowed.

 But in April this year, the MoEF gave revised environmental clearance to Lafarge.