R K Cogen & Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. has approached the Environment Ministry for environment clearance for its proposed sugar plant along with cogeneration power plant and distillery at Madikechilur in Karnataka?s Shimoga district.

In a letter to the ministry, the company said it proposes to achieve a production capacity of 5000 TCPD for the sugar plant, along with 34 MW of power and 45 KLPD of distillery.

The total cost of the project is Rs 367.23 crore of which Rs 5 lakh per annum is earmarked for greenbelt and environmental monitoring works. The project will give direct employment to about 300 people and indirect employment to about 400 people.

The firm said that there is an urgent need for a sugar plant in the area as sugarcane cultivators are facing problems in the absence of such a unit in the vicinity.

The total plot area of the project is 28.82 hectares of which 10 hectares will be for greenbelt development.

There are no national parks, biosphere reserves, elephant corridors and historical monuments within 10 km radius of the project area.

The company said that in-principle approval for the project and water supply has been accorded by the state government.