Narmada Cement Company Limited (NCCL) now a subsidiary of Ultra Tech Cement Limited is operating a cement plant near Babarkot village of Jafrabad taluka in Amreli district of Gujarat (Plate 1). This cement plant which is India’s first dry process cement plant was commissioned in January 1981 to produce 1.0 million tonnes annum (MTPA) of clinker. The clinker produced by this plant is transported by sea route to cement grinding units at Magdalla near Surat and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

To meet the limestone and marl requirements for clinker production, NCCL was granted mining lease by the government of Gujarat over 565.95 ha. in Babarkot village in Jafrabad taluka of Amreli district of Gujarat for a period of 20 years from 02.01.1079. This mine, captive to the cement plant started production of limestone at the rate of 1.5 MTPA.

The limestone requirement from the mine which is captive to the plant, depends on the production of Clinker at the Cement Plant. Over the past few years, production of the clinker has been upgraded to 1.45 MTPA. After the upgradation of clinker plant capacity from 3000 TPD to 4400 TPD, the mine production was also required to increase to 2.3 MTPA to meet the enhanced limestone requirement for functioning of the plant. The requirement of limestone and marl for upgraded capacity of cement worked out to around 2.1 MTPA. This requirement for limestone will be mostly met from the Babarkot mine lease (BMPL). The proved limestone reserves of BML are about 72.44 million tones.

The total forest area (177.25 ha.) under the initial mining lease in Babarkot village comprised of 80.93 ha. (in Survey No. 69/P) and 96.32 ha. (in Survey No. 366/P) in two separate blocks. Subsequently, in Survey No. 69/P, the area was reduced from 80.93 ha. to 65.24 ha. to exclude 15.69 ha. area falling within Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), which is proposed to be surrendered. In Survey number 366/P, the area was reduced from 96.32 ha. to 75.88 ha. to exclude 20.44 ha. area falling within 60m from the coast (i.e. part of Coastal Regulation Zone), which is proposed to be surrendered. NCCL proposes to retain the remaining area within CRZ (60 m to 500 m) for plantation – wherever feasible/possible, and approach roads (as forest area is honey combing with non-forest area). The Mine Plan was approved by IBM vide letter No. 682 (23) (853)/98 – MCCM (N) UDP dated 07.09.1998 that on the condition of restricting mining in the lease area beyond the limits of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). Subsequently, two separate proposals – Part I and II for renewal of lease over total area of 141.12 ha. for 20 years (up to 01.01.2019) in Survey No. 69/P and 366/P were submitted by NCCL to DCF, Gir (East) Forest Division, Dhari. The request of NCCL for renewal of lease in Survey No. 69/P and 366/P was put up for seeking permission of the Central Government vide letter No. A/Jaman/M.lease/ FCA/57-59/99-2000 dated 17.04.2000 and No. A/Jaman/M.Lease/FCA/615-17/2000-01 darted 15.07.2000 (Annexure–I & II).