This avoids drilling, blasting and primary crushing which allows substantial reduction in vibration, noise and dust generation.

At other locations, drilling and controlled blasting is undertaken to extract limestone. Here, drilling
is carried out by deploying latest sophisticated drills equipped with in-built arrangement of dust collection as well as water sprinkling for dust suppression. These arrangements make drilling operations practically dust-free. Hydraulic excavators are used for excavation and loading. High
capacity dumpers and tippers are utilized for hauling minerals to crusher.


Blasting operations are carried out in a controlled manner to minimize fly rock generation and ground vibrations. All the mining operations are carried out under the supervision of statutorily qualified mining personnel.

The non electric shock tube initiating system like EXEL (DTH) and noiseless trunk line delay detonator are regularly used for safety and to reduce the ground vibration, fly rocks and noise levels. In this system of blasting,
the detonating cord in the hole is replaced with a non electric/electronic detonator. During firing of the blast, the explosive charge is initiated at
the bottom of the hole and this ensures that most of the explosive energy is used in actually breaking the rock, thus reducing the fly rock considerably. In NONEL system, on the surface of the hole, the delay between different holes
is provided by non electric connectors ensuring correct firing as per the blast design. The process reduces the maximum instantaneous charge per delay which finally reduces the ground vibration levels.

Raw Material Optimization:
Given the level of complexity of the deposits, an accurate

deposits, an accurate evaluation of
the deposit becomes pertinent so that raw material extracted from mines is optimally utilized by blending low grade material and minimizing waste and equipment utilization is optimized.

In order to meet the stated objectives, ACL uses the following state-of-the-art computer based tools like SURPAC deposit modeling and mine planning software, Quarry Scheduling Optimizer (QSO) and Quarrymaster.

SURPAC divides the deposit into regular blocks and provides a grade tonnage inventory. QSO is an interactive, graphic-oriented program for visualization of the deposit in 2d and 3d perspective, computation of reserves, material blending and development of medium to long-term production scheduling and quarry planning tasks. QSO is a sensitivity analyses tool and helps to convert resources into reserves. QuarryMaster is easy-to-use daily (up to weekly)
planning tool for the quarry manager to know how much raw mix can be produced with the blasted material? How to blend the available piles, ratio, proportion etc.? Where to blast next? How to assign the loaders and trucks?		 EN 11 & EN 12

All ACL’s operating sites have been assessed for environment impacts and
necessary systems are put in place to prevent the occurrence of adverse
impacts. The Company continuously strives to operate in an environmentally
responsible manner. No protected area is existing in the immediate vicinity of the Company’s operating plants & mines. As a part of its Plant environment Profile, the Company continuously monitors & mitigates impacts on the biodiversity due to its operations.

MM1

Amount of land (owned or leased, and managed for production activities
or extractive use) disturbed or rehabilitated.
Ambuja Cements Limited