Bruno Lafunt, Global Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge accompanied by Guillaume Rox, Group Executive Vice President, Co-President Cement Division, Uday Khanna, Chief Executive Officer India, Neeraj Abhoury, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and J.L. Sud, Geo-Mining Liaison Consultant and the Senior Executives of the Group called on Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister here today to express their gratitude towards the Government of Himachal Pradesh for associating Lafarge Global Company with the developmental process of the State by allotting them cement plant.
Chief Minister said that the State was welcoming the multinational companies for investing in the State and becoming partners in the progress of the State. He said that the State had investment friendly environment with good governance, industrial incentives and above all political stability. He said that the proposals received from prospective entrepreneurs were being processed on top priority and their interests would be safeguarded. He said that the State would welcome private participation of global partners in education who were capable to impart education par excellence in emerging educational disciplines to the students and contribute significantly towards making Himachal Pradesh an Education Hub. He said that the State had congenial environment for serious studies, research and innovations which could be a great contribution of the State towards quality global education.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the State had banned the polluting industries and only those industries which had least environmental hazards were being granted permission subject to the condition that they take benefit of the technological advancements in checking the pollution with the help of modern devices. He said that environment was a valuable asset of the State and would be protected at all costs and any disturbance to the ecology would be viewed seriously. He said that development at the cost of environment and interests of the State and its people would not be allowed
Chief Minister said that the State was taking all precautions while allotting cement projects for execution to utilize the available limestone for the benefit of the State. He said that cement projects were being permitted in the locations where displacement of the habitations was negligible and environmental efforts were not hazardous. He said that cement plant companies had been directed to incorporate pollution control devices in their plants so that there were no ecological hazards. He said that cement plants were instrumental in generating vast employment and self employment avenues to the local people and the economy of the people of the area got strengthened. He said that the companies were also being directed to ensure their active participation in the local developmental activities and associate themselves with the social welfare activities of the respective areas.
