Shimla, August 29 – The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday admitted that major cement units in the state are flouting mining and environmental rules, with Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan assuring strict action against violators.
Replying to a query by Congress MLA Sanjay Awasthy during Question Hour in the Assembly, Chauhan said Ambuja and Ultratech plants operating in Arki, now under the Adani Group, were “not following the mining rules” and committing “many violations.”
“I assure the House that the department will take strict action wherever violations are being committed. I will personally convene a meeting with the management of these units to ensure that they spend two per cent of their profit in the project area under CSR, in consultation with the MLA concerned and panchayat representatives,” the minister said.
Chauhan also admitted that most of the violations were taking place at night. “Maximum environmental violations are being committed at night by cement plants in Arki and Sundernagar,” he noted, responding to concerns flagged by Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal about health issues caused by pollution from the factories.
On the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending, the minister pointed out that Ambuja had spent Rs 5.38 crore and Ultratech Rs 93.57 lakh in Arki under CSR. However, he stressed that companies must invest their CSR money in the affected panchayats, rather than outside Himachal. “The state has very little control over CSR funds, as the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs holds the complete data,” Chauhan said, adding that efforts were on to convince companies to direct their CSR spending locally.
Chauhan further clarified that amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, could only be done by the Centre. “Before 2015, the state government used to grant leases, but now even limestone quarries have been placed in the auction category,” he said.
The minister also informed the House that Rs 13.95 crore had been collected in penalties from 21,182 illegal mining cases over the past two years up to March 31, 2025. He assured the Assembly that the government would examine the demand to return mining lease areas where limestone deposits have been exhausted back to the owners.
Raising the issue, Awasthy said pollution from the Ultratech and Ambuja cement plants in Arki constituency was causing health problems for residents, while CSR money was not being utilized in the affected areas.
