Will act against violations by cement plants, other units: Industries Minister

The state government will take action against violations being committed by cement plants and industrial units and ensure spending under corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds in the project area and not outside Himachal.

Replying to a query by Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthy during the question hour in the Vidhan Sabha today, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan admitted that cement plants being run by Ambuja and Ultratech in Arki were not following the mining rules and committing many violations.

“I assure the House that the department will take strict action against the companies wherever mining and environmental violations are being committed. I will convene a meeting with the management of these units to persuade them to spend two per cent of their profit in the project area under the CSR in consultation with the concerned MLA and panchayat representatives,” he said.

“I admit that maximum environmental violations are being committed at night by these cement plants in Arki and Sundernagar, which have been taken over by the Adani group. He said the government would ensure that all companies, cement plants, factories and MNCs in the state spend the CSR money in Himachal.

The minister informed that so far Rs 5.38 crore had been spent by Ambuja and Rs 93.57 lakh by Ultratech under the CSR in Arki area. He added that the state government has very little control on the CSR money and it is the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs which has complete data of this fund. Efforts are being made to convince them to spend the CSR funds in the affected panchayats, he added.

Chauhan said that amendments in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 can be done only by the Centre and state government has no control over it. “Before 2015, the state government used to give leases but now even limestone quarries have been placed in the auction category,” he informed.

The minister informed Rs 13.95 crore had been collected by way of penalty in 21,182 illegal mining cases in the last two years till March 31, 2025. He also assured that the government would look into the issue of returning the mining lease and areas where limestone deposits have exhausted to the owners, he said.

Awasthy said pollution by cement plants of Ultratech and Ambuja in Arki assembly constituency was resulting in health issues and even CSR money was not being spent in the project-affected areas. Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal raised the issue of pollution being created by cement plants late in the night causing health problems.