Lafarge case verdict today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court would on Wednesday pronounce its judgement over mining by the French cement giant Lafarge in the forest of East Khasi hills in Meghalaya for its Bangladesh-based cement plant. The enviornmental clearance given by the Ministry of Enviornment and Forest has been challenged. A special forest bench headed by the Chief Justice SH Kapadia would give its verdict over mining in the forest over a batch of petitions filed by local residents, company and other parties. The court had on May 10 reserved its judgement after hearing all the parties over the revised environmental clearance given to Lafarge for mining in the forest. The apex court had on February 5, 2010, stopped Lafarge from carrying out limestone mining in Meghalaya for its cement plant, saying mining in the environmentally-sensitive zone could not be allowed. Lafarge is defending its case on the basis of DFO’s report given on June 30, 2000, stating that it was a waste land and there was no forest there. (PTI)