The Centre’s proposed move to exempt standalone cement grinding units without captive power plants from prior environmental clearance appears to ease the path for Adani Group’s Rs 1,400-crore cement grinding project in Kalyan, as per a draft notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on September 26.
The exemption, if approved, could significantly benefit the company’s plan to establish a 6-million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) grinding facility in a densely populated region that has already witnessed strong public opposition, according to The Indian Express.
The proposed plant, to be developed by Ambuja Cement Ltd—an Adani Group subsidiary—has faced sustained protests from residents of Mohone village and ten neighbouring areas near Kalyan, who have expressed fears over possible air pollution and health hazards.
Their concerns were recorded during a public hearing held by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) soon after The Indian Express first reported the matter on September 15.
Under the new draft notification, the ministry argues that standalone cement grinding units without captive power plants generate comparatively lower pollution since they do not involve high-temperature industrial processes like calcination and clinkerisation.
These processes, used in full-scale cement manufacturing, are energy-intensive and emit large quantities of carbon dioxide and other gases. The ministry contends that excluding such processes makes standalone units less environmentally harmful, and therefore, they should not be subjected to the same level of clearance and compliance required of integrated cement plants.
The proposed policy states that such units will still operate under a regulatory and monitoring regime, but the exemption from prior environmental clearance would remove the need for detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and public consultations.
Officials claim this would eliminate what they describe as disproportionate compliance obligations for smaller-scale operations while promoting the use of railways and electric vehicles for transporting raw materials and finished goods to reduce emissions further.
The 26.13-hectare site, part of the defunct National Rayon Company (NRC) estate acquired by the Adani Group in 2020, is slated to host the 6.0 MMTPA grinding unit with dedicated space for a green belt and storage facilities.
The NRC factory, once a major industrial establishment in Ambivli, ceased operations in 2006 and was locked out in 2009 following labour disputes. The public has been given 60 days from the notification date to submit objections or suggestions before the ministry finalises the proposal, which, if approved, will amend the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment norms.