The Indian Supreme Court has allowed the central empowered committee (CEC)
to file an “environment cost benefit analysis” on degradation of environment
and forests by mining companies, including French Lafarge. The cement maker
had moved the apex court seeking permission to take limestone, a key input
for making cement, from its mines in Meghalaya to its cement plant in
Bangladesh.
 
Senior counsel Harish Salve, the court-appointed amicus curie, sought one
week to submit the environment cost benefit report suggesting imposition of
penalty for destroying India’s forest cover.
 
“Hundreds of acres of land was being exploited for supply of limestone to
the cement plant in Bangladesh. The Centre has to take a stand,” he added.