Cement, Energy and Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND ENERGY SAVING AT MANIKGARH CEMENT The article describes the pollution control, environmental improvement and energy! material conservation measures successfullyimplemented byManikgarh Cement since the commissioning ofits plant in 1987. Ranging from replacement oforiginallyinstalled equipment, to retrofitting and upgradation in tune with technological advance, and utilisation of wastes as raw material and fuel, the plant has adopted eve.ry possible means to improve environmental quality and energy efficiency besides resource conservation. The plant valorises the entire fly ash produced at its captive thermal power station for cement production and has been successfully using rice husk and bamboo dust as alternative fuels. It has an impressive track record on tree plantation too and is dedicated to the uplift of the local community. Winner of a number ofNational Awards for its various achievements in environmental excellence and energy performance, the plant has obtained IS 14001 accreditation from December 2001 ..-- Ed Introduction Manikgarh Cement, a division ofM/s. Century Textiles & Industries Ltd., is a 1.5-rnillion-tonne piant located at village Gadchandur in Chandrapur Dist. of Maharashtra State. The plant, commissioned in 1987, is equipped with latest hi-tech equipment from USA and Germany. Plant location in relation to risk receptors Greenery developed on waste dump in mines. The plant site is situated between 19°42'15" and 19°43'15" north latitude and 79°10'0" and 79°11'15" east longitude at an elevation of256.20 m above mean sea level, south of village Gadchandur, Tehsil Korpana, Dist. Chandrapur, Maharashtra. It is about 50 km south of Chandrapur, the district headquarters and 20 km away from Korpana. The nearest railway station is Ballarshah on Central Railway in the Delhi - Chennai trunk route, 32 km away. The plant is accessible by road, i.e. State Highway No. 282 Chandrapur- Adilabad. The nearest airport is Nagpur, which is 210 km by road. There is a small earthen dam 'Arnal Nallah' which is about 3 km away from the plant and no river anywhere nearby. The area has a generally dry climate characterised by hot summers, March to May and well-distributed rainfall during the southwest monsoon, June to September. The cold season lasts from December to February. The maximum and minimum temperatures recorded are 48.5° C and 6.5° C respectively. The predominant wind direction is northeast.