ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS : A CASE STUDY OF

ACC CEMENT PLANT

Abstract:

Cement is an extensively used material. The demand of cement is high

both in building and infrastructure development. However, the
environmental impact of cement production process starting from pre
production stage to end stage is significant. This study scrutinizes the
environmental impact due to cement production process in ACC cement
plant of Chhattisgarh state, India. The plant production adopted the dry
processes which include simply of raw materials, clinker burning and
grinding process from which dust is emitted due to the kiln feed,
crushers, grinding clinker cookers and material handling equipments. A
case study of ACC cement plant is developed, focusing on crusher unit
for evaluating the significant environmental impact. The study shows
that how one can generate aspects from activities and can analyze that
which aspects are significant or insignificant. The case study suggests
that the aspects like fugitive dust emission and noise need to be
emphasized and require more attention and to be managed.
Key Words :

 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

 Environmental Management
 Cement plant
 Significant aspect
 Sustainability
Introduction To The Comapany:

ACC Limited (Formerly The Associated Cement Companies Limited)

one of the largest producers of cement in India. It's registered office is
called Cement House. It is located on Maharishi Karve
Road, Mumbai. The stock price of company contributes in
calculating BSE Sensex.

The management control of company was taken over by Swiss cement

major Holcim in 2014. On 1 September 2015 the name of The
Associated Cement Companies Limited was changed to ACC Limited.
The company is only cement company to get Superbrand status in India

In 1936 ten cement companies belonging to Tatas, Khataus, Killick

Nixon and F E Dinshaw groups merged to form a single entity, The
Associated Cement Companies. Sir Nowroji B Saklatvala was the first
chairman of ACC. The first board of directors had some prominent
industrialists—J R D Tata, Ambalal Sarabhai, Walchand
Hirachand, Dharamsey Khatau, Sir Akbar Hydari, Nawab Salar Jung
Bahadur and Sir Homy Mody. ACC is India? foremost manufacturer of
cement and concrete and was established on August 1,1936. ACC?
operations are spread throughout the country with 14 modern cement
factories, more than 30 ready mix concrete plants, 20 sales offices, and
several zonal offices. It has a workforce of about 10,000 persons and a
countrywide distribution network of over 9,000 dealers. ACC's research
and development facility has a unique track record of innovative
research, product development and specialized consultancy services.
Since its inception in 1936, the company has been a trendsetter and
important benchmark for the cement industry in respect of its
production, marketing and personnel management processes. Its
commitment to environment–friendliness, its high ethical standards in
business dealings and its on–going efforts in community welfare
programmes have won it acclaim as a responsible corporate citizen.
ACC has made significant contributions to the nation building process
by way of quality products, services and sharing its expertise.
In the 70 years of its existence, ACC has been a pioneer in the
manufacture of cement and concrete and a trendsetter in many areas of
cement and concrete technology including improvements in raw material
utilisation, process improvement, energy conservation and development
of high performance concretes.
ACC brand name is synonymous with cement and enjoys a high level of
equity in the Indian market. It is the cement company that figures in the
list of Consumer Super Brands of India.
The company's various businesses are supported by a powerful, in–
house research and technology backup facility – the only one of its kind
in the Indian cement industry. This ensures not just consistency in
product quality but also continuous improvements in products,
processes, and application areas.
ACC has rich experience in mining, being the largest user of limestone,
and it is also one of the principal users of coal. As the largest cement
producer in India, it is one of the biggest customers of the Indian
Railways, and the foremost user of the road transport network services
for inward and outward movement of materials and products.
ACC has also extended its services overseas to the Middle East, Africa,
and South America, where it has provided technical and managerial
consultancy to a variety of consumers, and also helps in the operation
and maintenance of cement plants abroad.
ACC is among the first companies in India to include commitment to
environmental protection as one of its corporate objectives, long before
pollution control laws came into existence. The company installed
pollution control equipment and high efficiency sophisticated
electrostatic precipitators for cement kilns, raw mills, coal mills, power
plants and coolers as far back as 1966. Every factory has state–of–the art
pollution control equipment and devices.
ACC demonstrates the practices of being a good corporate citizen
undertaking a wide range of activities to improve the living conditions of
the under–privileged classes living near its factories.
Introduction To The Case:

The use of cement has long been the basis of the development of the
society and for the welfare of the people for generations. Concrete,
which is made from the cement, has been the ultimate material for
construction. Cement manufacturing process is technology intensive.
Raw material extraction causes serious environmental problems by
damaging the landscape and most of these raw materials become scarce.
The cement industry recognizes its responsibility to manage the
environmental impact associated with the manufacturing of its product
from first to last stage. Cement industry is considered as one of the most
pollution hazardous industry. Crusher plays an important role in cement
making process but it is also a major source of pollution. Hence, the
author decides to conduct a case study on crusher unit for impact
analysis. Environmental impact assessment process Environmental
Impact Assessment’ is a systematic process to identify, evaluate and
predict the potential impacts of a proposed development project. EIA is
a ‘decision making’ tool for the proposed developmental activities which
scales the project based on its environmental consequences. The tool is
used before making any major decisions and commitments. The
environment here, in a broader perspective, includes biophysical, social,
cultural and health impacts. By considering the environmental effects of
the project and their mitigation early in the project planning cycle as part
of environmental assessment has many benefits, such as protection of
environment, optimum utilization of resources and saving of time and
cost of the project. Properly conducted EIA also lessons conflicts by
promoting community participation, informing decision makers and
helping lay the base for environmentally sound projects. EIA provides a
procedure for the full consideration of all possible adverse
environmental impacts of policies, programs activities and projects
before any decision is taken to proceed. This is an opportunity to present
recommendations to the decision maker on the suitability of the policy,
programme activity or project, on environmental grounds. There is an
opportunity to incorporate conditions of consent for mitigating adverse
environmental effects. Conditions of approval may ensure monitoring by
the proponent, post-project analysis and independent auditing. Thus,
Environmental Impact Assessment helps in harmonizing the
developmental activities with the environmental concerns.
The EIA process includes the following :

 Determination and investigate feasible alternatives for the

proposed development.
 Identify the environmental status in terms of the baseline
information that has been obtained.
  Identify the potential environmental impacts of the proposed
development.
 Access the potential environmental impacts in terms of the
following extent.
 Make recommendations regarding suitable migration measures to
reduce the significance of the identified impacts.
 Conduct the specialist studies and integrate the findings into the
final report.

Characteristics of the impacts:

 Typical characteristics to be taken into account in impact

prediction and decision making includes.
 Nature(positive/negative/direct/indirect/ cumulative)
 Magnitude
 Extent/location
 Timing (during construction/operation/
decommissioning/immediate/delayed/rate of change)
 Like hood
EVALUATION

To identify actual and potential, positive and negative environmental

impacts associated with each identified aspects. To meet the above
objectives, we develop a case study for which we have collect data and
conducted unstructured. Raw data were also collected from secondary
sources i.e. published magazine and manuals.
Conclusion:

Cement production is one of the main pollution contributors due to its

extensive energy consumption and gas emission. Dust emission sources
are kiln, crusher, grinders, clinker cookers and material handling
equipments. Crusher department is one of the major sources of
environmental pollution. Fugitive dust emission, stack emission and
noise have been identified as significant aspects during activities like
receipt of limestone, primary crushing, screening. These significant
aspects are imparting very much impact on the human health like
respiratory disorderness, hearing impairment, etc. Thus there arises a
need for developing a strategy for reducing the impacts and this require
more attention to be emphasized on the aspects.
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