Lafarge hopes for early resumption of mining operations in Meghalaya

Online, April 12, 2010 (Newswire.com) - We welcome the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directive to have an independent MoEF Environmental Assessment Committee to review the Environment Compliance Reports by the next hearing, which was also the recommendation of high-powered committee. This will then be presented to the court. Lafarge is confident of an early resolution of the matter, as the company has always applied the highest standards of environmental compliance.

The report submitted by the high-powered committee of the MOEF headed by Mr. B N Jha, RCCF North Eastern Regional Office of Environment and Forest and other senior officials who visited the site recently under the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court - has confirmed that the company was meeting the environment standards and was in compliance with the set norms.

The report also documents the over-whelming support of the villagers of both the Shella and the Nongtrai Durbars.

Lafarge and its communities

Lafarge always keeps at its heart the Interest of the communities where we operate. In Meghalaya, over the years, Lafarge has contributed in a variety of ways to the development of the people of Nongtrai and Shella. In addition to the income that is generated from the operations, the company has been carrying out infrastructure support & improvement projects in the villages. The company has also undertaken several CSR projects in the areas of employability, education and health.

This too is reflected in the report of the High Powered Committee.

"The impact of mining on the surrounding villages in Nongtrai and Shella (especially Nongtrai) was found very positive and beneficial to the residents due to huge amount of cash going to Village Durbar and reaching to individual households improving the financial health of the population of the villages."

Going forward, LUMPL had plans to intensify these activities. It, therefore, welcomes the AG's recommendation to set up a "Special Purpose Vehicle" (SPV) - which would provide a structure and organization for implementation of these activities and also bring greater transparency in the processes - to ensure that the interests of all stake-holders are equitably met.

Lafarge is committed to total legal and environmental compliance. We are therefore confident of an early and speedy resolution of the matter in the best interest of all stakeholders.

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