The cement plant is proposed to be located in Chambi area near Sundernagar. The area within the site plan for the cement plant is predominantly non-forest land. No landtake from the forest is involved even for associated infrastructure including the alignment of the conveyor belt. The location of the plant is therefore not likely to bring about any alteration in the ecological setting in the forested landscape. The proposed cement plant is located at a straight-line distance of atleast 5 km from the nearest boundary of the Bandli WLS which is separated from the proposed plant by a chain of mountains. The finalisation of the present site alternative, after having rejected the earlier site at Maloh village due to its proximity to Bandli WLS, has already taken into account the concerns linked to the conservation significance of this Sanctuary.

As the proposed plant is designed to adopt dry process technology that would conform to standards laid down under IS: 1893:2002 (Part 1) for cement production, the features of the plant design and operation are expected to substantially reduce threats from air and water pollution as has been discussed in the relevant sections of this chapter dealing with pollution related impacts. However, due to the location of the proposed cement plant in a valley (Bahl valley), there are greater challenges of ensuring reduced pollution loads on account of entrapment of pollutants. Since the brief of this study did not cover an evaluation of the pollution and health related impacts of the proposed project, these have not been addressed although they do warrant serious consideration.a