I am studing both aspects of cement plant in hills. I want to write an article which give fare idea to the karsog and Shimla- Suni people about they are likely to get and loose. Ashish Gupta from Delhi has given me some point , he runs an organic produce retailing outlet at Rohini.
here it is......
Energy Consumption - Highest energy consumer of all industries
CO2 Emissions - In two parts - power from fossil fuels to operate rotator kiln and calcimine limestone to lime. 1/2 ton of CO2 per ton of Cement
Worldwide, cement production now accounts for more than 1.6 billion tons of CO2--over 8% of total CO2 emissions from all human activities
Other Air Emissions - Dust, 360 pounds per tonne of cement from kiln. Other sources - the handling of raw material, grinding cement clinker and packaging loading of finishes cement. Also on Concrete production and transport.
SO2 and Nitrous Oxide result from sulphur content and fuel.
Pressure on Fuel since transport requirements for cement industry is huge - e.g. see Bilaspur and the condition of the residents once the industry is setup. It is good for industrialists - but is it not good for environment and people? The road accidents have gone up. Dust and pollution the traffic jams etc.
Water Pollution - Wash-out water has high pH and is a very big issue. pH can be as high as 12 and alkaline water is toxic to wildlife, humans and agriculture. Depletion of Water sources for human consumption
Solid Waste - Huge amount of solid waste in construction and tear down of plants.
Admixtures added to cement have harmful side effects. Soil compaction and harm to trees is only some of the problems.
Health Hazard in working with cement - Cement Dermatitis.
CSE report clearly states - "There is no such thing as a Sustainable Cement Industry"
Ratings by CSE for all cement majors such as mediocre. Although the Gaggal plant was rated third it does not take into account the indirect impact such as transportation pressure, dust at Gaggal and damage to the local ecosystem. And other local nuisance such as traffic menace of dumpers, accidents and casualties and dust and noise generated by them.
Mines are required for limestone to run Cement factories - most of these mines are in sensitive areas. If the limestone is to come from HP then forests and mountains will be denuded - if not the fossil fuel pollution caused due to transport will be large.
CO2 Emissions - In two parts - power from fossil fuels to operate rotator kiln and calcimine limestone to lime. 1/2 ton of CO2 per ton of Cement
Worldwide, cement production now accounts for more than 1.6 billion tons of CO2--over 8% of total CO2 emissions from all human activities
Other Air Emissions - Dust, 360 pounds per tonne of cement from kiln. Other sources - the handling of raw material, grinding cement clinker and packaging loading of finishes cement. Also on Concrete production and transport.
SO2 and Nitrous Oxide result from sulphur content and fuel.
Pressure on Fuel since transport requirements for cement industry is huge - e.g. see Bilaspur and the condition of the residents once the industry is setup. It is good for industrialists - but is it not good for environment and people? The road accidents have gone up. Dust and pollution the traffic jams etc.
Water Pollution - Wash-out water has high pH and is a very big issue. pH can be as high as 12 and alkaline water is toxic to wildlife, humans and agriculture. Depletion of Water sources for human consumption
Solid Waste - Huge amount of solid waste in construction and tear down of plants.
Admixtures added to cement have harmful side effects. Soil compaction and harm to trees is only some of the problems.
Health Hazard in working with cement - Cement Dermatitis.
CSE report clearly states - "There is no such thing as a Sustainable Cement Industry"
Ratings by CSE for all cement majors such as mediocre. Although the Gaggal plant was rated third it does not take into account the indirect impact such as transportation pressure, dust at Gaggal and damage to the local ecosystem. And other local nuisance such as traffic menace of dumpers, accidents and casualties and dust and noise generated by them.
Mines are required for limestone to run Cement factories - most of these mines are in sensitive areas. If the limestone is to come from HP then forests and mountains will be denuded - if not the fossil fuel pollution caused due to transport will be large.
I wish more and more people come forward with there points covering following points
environmental
Agricultural and horticultural
social
cultural
health
etc etc...........
Dr. Dharm Pal Sharma has given his comments on my personal mail as.......................my feeling is that having a cement plant at Alsindi can be beneficial to the people of the area without damaging the environment if properly executed.
ReplyDeleteThe people of the area should be made participants in the process rather than the handful of leaders and bureaucrats sharing the booty.
Ambuja cement plant emitted very less pollutants in the surroundings as compared to ACC plant at Gaggal because the former installed cyclotron and other pollution trapping devices right at inception. Technology is there to save environment from the cement plants, but needs to be implemented faithfully. Also reclaiming and restoration of the mined land with vegetation and other means is equally critical.
But the affected people of the area, especially those in its neighborhood, must be made a part of the development process and their quality of life must improve through better roads, better schools and buildings, health care facilities, drainage and water layouts, and parks and recreation areas.Special care should be taken to keep traffic congestion away from the habited areas as you often see in Darlaghat and Gaggal.It will be good if the product is hauled by constructing a railway line upto production facility with incentives from the private sector like Konkan Railway, than by benefitting a few truck owners of the area.Sometimes, even our own people, by seeing immediate benefits may oppose such moves and create congestion and pollution as it is happening everywhere including in front of your office!For that matter, Sanoti and other towns could be cleaner and inviting to the foreign traveler and tourist than repelling as they have become over the past five decades!Our area, for that matter, can be a big earner from tourism money if the local people think of long term goals than immediate benefits.By cutting the stomach of the hen, they will neither get the golden egg nor the hen.
So, Cement plant , or any other industry in the area will be good for the people and the area if properly implemented and benefits flow to improve the quality of life of its people than getting amassed in a few greedy pockets!
Dr Dharam Pal Sharma, Chamanpur, Churag
The cement industry is a heavy weight of Indian industry. The cement industry in India is growing at a tremendous rate. The cement industry is one of the main beneficiaries of the infrastructure boom.
ReplyDeletepulp paper plant