Saptagir Camphor has sought environmental clearance for expansion of its camphor manufacturing unit at Kothapalli in Andhra Pradesh?s Anantapur district. In a letter to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the company said it proposes to increase the camphor and iso-borneol production capacity from 2000 TPA to 5000 TPA.

The total cost of the project is Rs 5.73 crore of which the cost of pollution control equipment is Rs 22.25 lakh.

Saptagir is one of the leading manufacturer and supplier of terpene chemicals and associated products in India. Its well diversified product range includes synthetic camphor, synthetic camphor - T grade, Isoborneol, Isobornyl Acetate, Isoborneol flakes, Dipentene, Camphor Oil, Terpinolene, Sodium Acetate Trihydrate, Pinetar and Camphene.

The total plot area is 80808 sq m of which 41646 is for greenbelt development. The green belt around the periphery of the unit will reduce the spread of air pollutants originated from the factory operation, it said.

The company said that its unit is not located within 10 km of critically or severely polluted area. There are no national parks, wildlife sanctuary and reserve forests within 10 km of the unit.