Indian Prayagraj region to become cement hub

India’s Prayagraj region in Uttar Pradesh is set to become a cement production hub. In addition to its two existing cement plants – the 6.6Mta Sadwa works of Jaypee Group and the 2Mta Bara unit of UltraTech Cement – three further cement plants have been announced.

JK Cement, KJS Cement and Eco Cement have started the process of building plants in the Trans-Yamuna region of Prayagraj.

JK Cement has signed a Memorandum with Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). ”A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the company. The firm will be setting up a clinker grinding unit having a capacity of 2.50Mta with an investment of Rs 400 crore [US$48.3m] in the Bara area. The firm is already in the process of purchasing land," said a senior official of UPSIDA.

KJS Cement is currently looking at the construction of a 2Mta in Meja while Eco Cement Ltd is planning to build a 4Mta clinker grinding plant on a 25.829ha plot at Lakhanpur, Bara.

The three cement companies have also applied to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), seeking no-objection certificates for setting up plants at the sites.

"We had sought objections to setting up plants. There is no opposition to the projects from the locals. Now the three firms would need to attain environmental clearances before setting up the plants," said RK Singh, regional officer, UPPCB, Prayagraj.