The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, presided by the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, has ordered to issue show cause notices to all five cement plants which had been approved in the past but had not taken adequate steps for commissioning of the plants. Cabinet has asked them why the approval granted to them may not be withdrawn.
These cement plants include Keran Limestone deposits, Tehsil Sundernagar, Distt Mandi of M/S. Harish Cements Ltd, Alsindi plant in Karsog Tehsil of Mandi district of M/S Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd, Gumma-Rohana plant, Tehsil Chopal in district Shimla of M/S The India Cement Ltd., Cement Plant (Unit-II) based on already leased out Baga Bhalag Limestone deposits in Tehsil Arki of Solan district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd., and Baroh-Shind plant in Tehsil Churah of Chamba district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd.
In a major development, HP Cabinet has also decided to grant prospecting license to M/S Reliance Cement Company for setting up of a large cement plant based on Limestone, Shale and Quartzite in village Sugarthi, Thangar, Kura Khera, Pauli Kheram Kandal and Bedera in Chopal tehsil of Shimla district measuring 25 square kilometres (2500 hectares).
