Indian SC asks Lafarge to submit project report

The Indian Supreme Court has directed French cement company Lafarge to submit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of its Bangladesh-based plant in connection with its mining project in Meghalaya.
There have been allegations of irregularities in getting the environment clearance for its operation.
A special forest bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia on Friday directed Lafarge to turn in the DPR that it submitted to the banks for getting loans.
The apex court also directed the Indian government to present a copy of the approval granted for this mining project to Lum Mawshun Minerals Private Ltd, in June 1999.
The SC direction came after senior advocate Shyama Devan, appearing for the residents of Shella village of the Khasi Hills, opposed the stand of Lafarge that it had no knowledge of any forest area in the mining zone.
"Lafarge must have knowledge of the topography. They knew well that it was in the middle of the forest area," said Devan.
Lafarge is defending its mining in the forest area on the basis of a June 2000 report by the divisional forest officer that stated it was a wasteland and there was no forest.
Responding to the proceedings in the SC, Lafarge said in a statement the issues discussed in the court on Friday were largely in line with arguments and submissions made in the court earlier.
The apex court was hearing a plea over the revised environmental clearance given to Lafarge by Indian government on April 19 and 22 last year.
People of Shella village are opposing the clearance given by the Indian environment and forest ministry.
On April 24, the ministry told the apex court that it had cleared the mining project of Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt Ltd, a sister concern of Lafarge, with some strict riders.
The $255 million Lafarge Surma Cement project at Chhatak in Bangladesh is wholly dependent on limestone extracted from Meghalaya transported to Bangaldesh in a 17-km-long conveyor belt.