Coal news and updates

Dalmia Cement gets Green nod for limestone mining in AP

May 29: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted environment clearance to Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL) to mine limestone at Kotapadu village in Andhra Pradesh with a capacity of 2.14 million tons per annum (mtpa), according to a document by the ministry.

According to the document, initially, the mining plan was approved in favour of Eswar Cements Private Limited by the India Bureau of Mines. Later on, Eswar Cements Private Limited (ECPL) amalgamated with DCBL. Hence, the mine now belongs to the latter.

Though the MoEF permitted fully mechanised mining method involving drilling, blasting, loading and transportation of the excavated material, it mandated that the mining impact be minimised by choosing a proper detonating system and to monitor so that the mining operations do not intersect the groundwater table.

The total estimated mineable reserves are 69.73 million tons and the project cost is Rs 55 crore.