LRC Speciality Surfactants has approached the Ministry of Environment and Forests for environmental clearance for its proposed chemical unit at Lakeshri in Uttarakhand?s Hardwar district. The total cost of the project is Rs 3.50 crore and the land required is 1 acre. Greenbelt will be developed in 35 per cent of the land.

The company said it proposes to produce 41,500 MTPA of Indifo GV Liquid (Sulphonated Naphthalene Formaldehyde Condensate). The product is the basic material for ?admixtures? used to enhance properties of concrete in wet and hardened stage.

It said there are no defence installations, natural forest blocks in the area and also no ecologically sensitive areas like national parks, sanctuaries or biosphere reserves near the proposed unit.

The company said adequate air pollution control equipment shall be installed and adequate stack height shall be provided. With use of air pollution control equipment, there will be no air pollution.

There will also be no effluent from the proposed project. Only domestic effluent will be generated which shall be subjected to soak pits.

LRC Surfactants said there will be no fugitive emission from the project either.

According to the company, priority will be given to local people for employment at the unit. The company said there will be pre-medical check-up at the time of employment and there will be provision for periodic medical check-up for all the employees.

According to company, baseline data is being collected for the proposed project and a study area of 10 km radius has been chosen.

Sampling stations have been selected within the study area as per the guidelines of the Environment Ministry and Central Pollution Control Board based on predominant wind direction, upwind direction, crosswind direction, rural area representation and urban area representation.

Parameters like SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx are analysed twice in a week for each station throughout the study period of one month.