The Hindu Business Line : Madras Cements plant voted greenest in India

THE Alathiyur (Tamil Nadu) plant of Madras Cements has been rated the greenest cement plant in the country by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has awarded it four leaves as part of its Green Rating Project for the cement industry.

This is a first in the history of the Green Rating Project, which has so far rated paper, automobiles, and chlor-alkali industries. So far, all top rated companies from different industrial sectors have managed only three leaves.

Overall, the cement industry has obtained an average score of 36 per cent and been awarded three leaves.

The Madras Cements plant, with a capacity of three million tonnes a year, scored 51 per cent. However, the CSE found the plant wanting in mining and mine management and occupational health and safety management. It has one of the highest stripping ratios and it has not properly planned for mine rehabilitation.

According to the CSE, the Gujarat plant of Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd was ranked second with 48 per cent, while three plants - JK Lakshmi Cement Ltd, Prism Cement Ltd, and the Associated Cement Companies Ltd's Gagal Cement Works - scored 46 per cent each and were ranked third.

The Madras Cements plant also bagged the Union Power Ministry's second prize in the cement sector for energy conservation.

According to the CSE, the plant is one of the few in the country that has provided covered storage yards for all coarse raw materials and silos for all fine materials and products.