The proposal to set up a dry process cement plant with annual production of 1.27 million tonnes at Chambi village near Sundernagar town in Mandi District and establishing the captive limestone mine for providing the raw material for the proposed cement plant attracted the provisions of EIA Notification (GOI 1994) as both these capital investments fall under Schedule-I category of projects listed under the EIA Notification and required site and environmental clearances from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoE&F), Govt. of India for implementation. Accordingly, the project authorities M/s Harish Cements applied to MoE&F for environmental clearance for establishing the mine and the cement plant.

The above proposal was considered during the meeting of the Expert Committee (Industry), Ministry of Environment & Forests held on 30th July 2003. The Committee made the following observation:

i. The distance of the proposed cement plant is about 5.65 km from the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary.

ii. The face of the mine would be developed near village Bari which is about 2.5 km from the boundary of the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary.

iii. The impacts of the specific project components (viz., the cement plant and the mining site) on wildlife values of the area and on the habitats of some rare and endangered species need to be critically evaluated before the project is appraised for environmental clearance

In view of the proximity of the project to a Protected Area, the Committee opined that a sub-committee constituted by MoE&F should inspect the cement plant site and the mine lease area to assess the likely impacts of the project on Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary before the project is put up to the Expert Committee for environmental appraisal. The Committee also sought from the project authorities the location map indicating project site and specific information on composition and quantities of stack emissions, wind rose diagram, water requirements for the project and the ground water quality.

Accordingly, in pursuance of the decision of the Expert Committee (Industry), the sub-committee comprising of the representatives of Indian Meteorology Department, Wildlife Institute of India and MoE&F undertook visit to sites of the proposed cement plant and mining operation during 29th November 1st December 2003 and submitted a joint report to MoE&F for facilitating the reconsideration of the project proposal for grant of site and environmental clearances

The MoE&F convened a meeting on 24th March 2004 for reviewing the site report prepared by the sub committee and to discuss the project proposal with the Director General (Forest) & Special Secretary, MoE&F, Govt. of India; Additional Director General (Wildlife), MoE&F; Principal Chief Conservator Forest, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India. Based on the discussions, need for a more focused and stand alone ecological impact assessment to evaluate the project specific impacts on Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary emerged before according environmental clearance to the project.

As a follow up of the above meeting, the MoE&F, Govt. of India, accorded site clearance vide letter No.J-11016/11/2003-IA.II (M) Govt. of India dated 17th June 2004 for initiating investigations and survey for the proposed project subject to strict compliance of the terms and conditions stipulated in the above referred letter of MoE&F (Annexure – I). The letter also indicated the following relevant conditions that were stipulated in the context of prescribed procedures for obtaining clearances under FCA and EIA Notification (GOI 1980, GOI 1994) subsequently:

i. The project proponent should obtain environmental clearance for the above project as per the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 1994 and its subsequent amendments from MoE&F before commencing any development work at the above approved site.

ii. No development activity, preliminary or otherwise relating to the mining should be undertaken till the environment clearance is obtained from MoE&F for 'the proposed mining project.

iii. The proponent should take all precautionary measures during the investigation and survey for the protection and conservation of the environment, ecology and forest of the area. Felling of the trees should not be carried out unless the requisite forestry clearance from the Ministry is obtained for the entire forestland.

iv. While preparing the EIA and EMP report of the project the proponent should engage Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun or Bombay Natural History Society to study comprehensively the impact on the wildlife in the Bandli Wildlife Sanctuary due to the ongoing and proposed mining activities within 5 km radius of the Sanctuary and prepare a management plan for the same. The study should also address the issues raised by the Expert Committees during their site visits.

v. After preparation of EIA & EMP report, fresh Public Hearing should be conducted as per the provisions of the EIA Notification 1994, as amended subsequently. While conducting Public Hearing, all the associations and citizens who have specifically represented against the project should be informed individually about the venue, date and timing for the Public Hearing.