Himachal Pradesh’s limestone deposits may have the potential to sustain at least 10 mega cement plants, half of these already commissioned, but the newly sanctioned plants are facing trouble.

The mega cement plant, sanctioned by the Congress government in 1994-95 at Sundernagar, has already run into rough weather, if the developments in Mandi district are any indicator. On Tuesday, a joint inspection team of the company and government officials was not allowed to enter the proposed site of the plant by protestors and had to make a quick exit.

Lalit Chaudhry, secretary of the newly-formed joint action committee (JAC) to oppose the plant, said: “The team had come to inspect 22 bighas of government land and the villagers did not let them reach the site. We will not allow the plant at any cost. This is a unanimous decision of the villagers, who are going to be affected by the project.”

Opposition to the plant has been going on for the last one year and was recently intensified with some environmental groups and NGOs visiting these villages. Nearly 1,002 bighas of land, at least 80 per cent of which is agricultural land, is going to be acquired by Harish Chandra, who is backed by the Grasim group.

Though at least two new cement plants, cleared by the government after Sundernagar, have already been commissioned, there is stiff opposition to this particular plant. The Sundernagar town, one of Himachal’s beautiful urban sites, is barely two and a half kilometres from the site of the plant. “Initially, a few people did talk about higher compensation and better rehabilitation package, but now everyone has said no to the plant as the entire area happens to be agriculture land,” said Chaudhry.

Deputy Commissioner (Mandi) Onkar Sharma, however, said there was no major problem related to setting up the plant. “The company has been told to negotiate directly with the farmers. The government will protect the interests of the farmers. Some do have reservations about the plant, the acquisition process is already on,” he added.

In all, the government has so far sanctioned eight cement plants — one of these being set up by Jaypee Group is expected to be commissioned next year. Here, too, the farmers are up in arms and are holding regular protests even as the government favours the company. In fact, the company has been sanctioned another cement plant at Chamba.

Three other proposed plants are at Chopal in Shimla district and Alsindi in Mandi district. Suni area of Shimla district was recently chosen for a cement plant and a leading company has already obtained the prospecting licence.