A proposed limestone mining project in Rajasthan has moved through the first stage of the environmental approval process despite being located 5.8 km from a designated Great Indian Bustard priority area, prompting criticism from Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh.
The Union environment ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee recommended the grant of terms of reference for UltraTech Cement Limited’s project at Joga village in Jaisalmer during its meeting on September 10. The recommendation allows the company to proceed with the formal environmental impact assessment process; it is not a final environmental clearance.
The proposed project covers more than 400 hectares and includes a stone-crushing unit. Documents from the EAC meeting state that the limestone mine is planned to produce one million tonnes per annum, while the stone crusher would have a capacity of 1,500 tonnes per hour.
Ramesh said in a post on X that the Great Indian Bustard is now “most critically endangered” and needs proactive protection rather than projects that could threaten it further. He also referred to the bird’s historical importance, noting that ornithologist Salim Ali had wanted it to be declared India’s national bird in the early 1960s.
Great Indian Bustard priority areas are designated habitats that serve as retreats and breeding grounds for the critically endangered species. The location of the proposed mine near one of these areas brings the project’s environmental assessment into direct focus, particularly because mining and crushing operations can generate dust, noise and activity near sensitive habitats.
UltraTech has proposed mitigation measures for the project, including water sprinkling to suppress dust, bag filters at the stone-crushing site and steps to minimise disturbance in adjoining areas. The effectiveness and implementation of these measures would be examined through the environmental assessment and subsequent regulatory process.
The proposed safeguards are significant in light of separate proceedings involving the company at another Rajasthan mining site. At a limestone mining operation covering more than 500 hectares in Jodhpura-Mohanpura village in the Kotputli-Behror district, UltraTech was accused of failing to implement similar environmental measures and of causing health hazards to local residents.
In November 2025, the Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal held the company responsible for environmental damage and health hazards in the village. The tribunal directed UltraTech to stop blasting at night, cover the stone-crushing area with tarpaulin, spray water on approach roads and install pollution-control systems including bag filters, vacuum suction hoods and dry fogging equipment.
A response from UltraTech regarding the allegations was awaited when the report was published. The Jaisalmer project will now proceed through the assessment stage, where its potential effects on the Great Indian Bustard priority area and the adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures will form part of the regulatory scrutiny.
