Alternate Fuel and Raw material
Biodiversity Management
Several measures are implemented to improve the environmental performance and address health & safety issues at Ambuja’s integrated cement plants and mining sites. Our water positive programme around our mining sites is designed to minimise the water requirement from natural resources in order to preserve biodiversity and the ecosystem. Trees are planted at the mine sites to improve biodiversity. After years of hard work, a green belt has been created in and around the plant and mine areas; it has transformed the dry and barren land into a verdant landscape. The green belt fulfils Ambuja’s commitment to have a high percentage of green cover and also helps reduce dust pollution and carbon sequestration. It also builds a rapport with the local villagers, providing both social and ecological value. Ambuja’s community welfare initiatives help in improving the livelihoods of the local people. Check dams aid in conserving water during the rainy season, which helps in recharging the ground water table. The increased availability of water in the water scarce regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan enables the local people to grow crops for a longer duration in the year, thus inproving their livelihood. This also helps the biodiversity and ecosystem of the area. The Company uses local agricultural fodder as biomass for power generation. This helps in minimising the emission of green house gases and provides additional income to the farmers through the sale of biomass to Ambuja. All Ambuja’s operating sites have been assessed for their environmental impact; systems have been put in place to prevent the occurrence of adverse impact. The Company continuously strives to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. At Darlaghat, and Ambujanagar the area within 10 km of our mining or plant operations has been designated as a protected area. The Company has initiated a wildlife conservation plan and biodiversity action plan at these locations. Additionally, our Rabriyawas plant has initiated a natural capital profile assessment with the guidance of Indian Business Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI). The Company has prepared a conservation plan for schedule-1 species which has been authenticated and approved by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife)-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Himachal Pradesh. This plan is also due for Ambujanagar. The total number of IUCN Red List species and National Conservation List species with habitats in areas affected by the operations of the organisation, by level of extinction risk, are: