Lok Sabha Question No. 3939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Environmental Clearance to Shree Cement Ltd.
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3939

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Environmental Clearance to Shree Cement Ltd

## 3939.   SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Shree  Cement  Limited,  Khapradih,  Chhattisgarh  received Environment Clearance (EC) from the Government for 13.5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) clinker and 16.5 MTPA cement production was directly granted including the production in Unit-3, however, the company admitted during the EC assessment that there is only 13 MTPA limestone linkage;
- (b) whether  the  data  for  the  year  2024-25  has  not  yet  been  made  public  which  raises questions on transparency;
- (c) whether such instance indicates organized financial crimes such as tax evasion, illegal mining, manipulation in balance sheet and money laundering; and
- (d) the number of complaints received by the Government and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) against Shree Cement Unit-3 during the last five years and the current year along with the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)to(d) An Environment Clearance (EC) was granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on 11-09-2019 to M/s Shree Raipur Cement Plant (a unit  of  M/s  Shree  Cement  Limited)  in  respect  of  a  project  located  near  Village Khapradih, Tehsil Simga, District Balodabazar - Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh. The EC was accorded for expansion in production of clinker manufacturing from 5.2 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 13.5 MTPA and cement manufacturing from 6 MTPA to 16.5 MTPA, along with Waste Heat Recovery Power Plant from 15 to 30 MW, Captive Power Plant from 25 MW to 125 MW and Synthetic Gypsum Unit of 65 Tons per Hour. As per the submission made by the Project Proponent (PP), the proposed expansion involved enhancement of production in existing Units 1 and 2, and setting up of new Unit-3 in a phase-wise manner and proposed enhancement in production was linked to proposed expansion of Bharuwadih - Samradih and Karhi - Chandi limestone mines. In light of the linkage of mines, an EC condition was also prescribed as mentioned below:

The limestone for the project shall be sourced only from (i) Existing Captive Semradih & Bharuwadih Limestone (M.L Area 531.126 ha) and (ii) Karhi -

Chandi Limestone Mine (ML area 242.127 ha) which are located adjacent to plant site. In case of any change in source of limestone, the project proponent shall obtain prior permission from MoEF&CC.

Subsequently, the Ministry accorded ECs to the Bharuwadih - Samradih and Karhi Chandi limestone mines on 27-08-2020 and 15-05-2020 for limestone production of 11.06  MTPA and 1.5 MTPA,  respectively. The project  proponent is mandated to upload the data regarding compliance of the EC conditions and the same has been reported for period 2024-25.   The complaints received regarding the compliance of EC  conditions  are  duly  recommended  for  appropriate  action  as  per  the  relevant provisions  of  EIA  Notifications,  2006  as  amended  from  time  to  time.  Two  (2) complaints were received regarding the operations of the Cement project. As per the information received from CPCB, the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) had inspected the unit during 22.01.2025 to 23.01.2025, and directed the unit to stop the operations of Kiln 2, Kiln 3 and Co-processing facility under Section 31(A) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 during inspection. Further, CECB  imposed  environment compensation of ₹4,00,000/vide letter dated 27.02.2025  and  ₹10,20,000/-  vide  letter  dated  28-03-2025  for  violation  of  the provisions  of  Hazardous  and  Other  Wastes  (Management  and  Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

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