Parliament Question: Environmental Clearance to Paper Mill

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2733 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 Environmental Clearance to Paper Mill 2733. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the objections raised by the public to the proposed paper mill by M/s Ruchira Papers Ltd. at villages Dholran and Bassi Gujjran, Tehsil Sri Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, Punjab; (b) whether it is a fact that the proposed site lies within 500 metres of historically significant Sikh Gurudwaras, including Gurudwara Bir Guru Jand Sahib, Gurudwara Sri Imli Sahib and Gurudwara Katalgarh Sahib; (c) whether the project violates the siting criteria notified on 30 January 2025 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 due to its proximity to Raipur Drain, Dhaulran Drain, MCM Drain and Sirhind Canal; and (d) whether it is true that in view of environmental and public health concerns and objections raised during the public hearing held on 30 April, 2025, the Government proposes to deny environmental clearance to the project and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (d) The ‘Pulp and Paper industry’ is covered at 5(i) in the schedule of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 (EIA Notification, 2006), and requires Environmental Clearance (EC) from the concerned regulatory authority before commencement of construction or operation of the project. The grant of EC involves four-stage appraisal process, namely screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal. During the technical appraisal, various project-related aspects, including the proceedings of the public hearing and the action plan proposed to address the concernsraised therein, the environmental sensitivity of the project site, and the adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures are considered by the Expert Committee. As per the information received from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), a public hearing for the proposed paper mill project of M/s Ruchira Papers Ltd. at villages Dholran and Bassi Gujjran, Tehsil Sri Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, Punjab was conducted on 30.04.2025, as per the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rupnagar. During the public hearing, the objections and concerns raised by the public were duly noted and recorded in the proceedings of the public hearing. PPCB has further reported that no religious place falls within 500 metres of the proposed project site, and that a seasonal drain passes through the proposed land of the paper mill. The Raipur Drain and Sirhind Canal are located at about 10 metres and 200 metres, respectively, from the nearest boundary of the project site. The Project Proponent had applied to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) seeking EC to establish the paper mill. The MoEFCC had sought essential details in respect of the project, and the PP has not yet submitted its reply. *****