Lok Sabha Question No. 2733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Environmental Clearance to Paper Mill
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Malvinder Singh Kang

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2733

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Environmental Clearance to Paper Mill

## 2733. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of the objections raised by the public to the proposed paper mill by M/s Ruchira Papers Ltd. at villages Dholran and Bassi Gujjran, Tehsil Sri Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, Punjab;

(b) whether it is a fact that the proposed site lies within 500 metres of historically significant Sikh Gurudwaras, including Gurudwara Bir Guru Jand Sahib, Gurudwara Sri Imli Sahib and Gurudwara Katalgarh Sahib;

(c) whether the project violates the siting criteria notified on 30 January 2025 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 due to its proximity to Raipur Drain, Dhaulran Drain, MCM Drain and Sirhind Canal; and

(d) whether it is true that in view of environmental and public health concerns and objections raised  during  the  public  hearing  held  on  30  April,  2025,  the  Government  proposes  to  deny environmental clearance to the project and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d)  The 'Pulp and Paper industry' is covered at 5(i) in the schedule of the Environment Impact  Assessment  Notification,  2006  (EIA  Notification,  2006),  and  requires Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  from  the  concerned  regulatory  authority  before commencement of construction or operation of the project. The grant of EC involves four-stage  appraisal  process,  namely  screening,  scoping,  public  consultation  and appraisal. During the technical appraisal, various project-related aspects, including the proceedings of the public hearing and the action plan proposed to address the concerns

raised therein, the environmental sensitivity of the project site, and the adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures are considered by the Expert Committee.

As per the information received from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), a public  hearing  for  the  proposed  paper  mill  project  of  M/s  Ruchira  Papers  Ltd.  at villages Dholran and Bassi Gujjran, Tehsil Sri Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, Punjab was conducted on 30.04.2025, as per the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rupnagar. During the public hearing, the objections and concerns raised by the public were duly noted and recorded in the proceedings of the public hearing.

PPCB  has  further  reported  that  no  religious  place  falls  within  500  metres  of  the proposed project site, and that a seasonal drain passes through the proposed land of the paper mill. The Raipur Drain and Sirhind Canal are located at about 10 metres and 200 metres, respectively, from the nearest boundary of the project site.

The Project Proponent had applied to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) seeking EC to establish the paper mill. The MoEFCC had sought essential details in respect of the project, and the PP has not yet submitted its reply.

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