Balodabazar: MLA, Pramod Sharma was arrested on Wednesday for creating a ruckus at a event organized by Nuvoco Vista Cement Corp in Balodabazar.Several along with contractor MLA opposed the expansion of the cement corp. Their protests also demanded a solution for the unemployement of the locals and the increased environmental pollution due to factory operations.Supporters of the MLA vandalized the pandal set up.

Nuvoco Vista Cement Corp, India’s fifth largest cement company plans to increase its installed cement production capacity by 21% to 26.9Mt through capital expenditures of more than US$253. This expansion would help it set its foot in the Western and Central India. An alternative fuel processing plant would be established in Chattisgarh, Maharashtra and Risda.

Nuvoco Vistas Corp, a part of Nirma Group company, currently has a consolidated capacity of 22.32 mtpa with a major presence in the East.Nirma Group forayed into the cement business in 2014 through a greenfield cement plant in Nimbol and acquired the Indian cement business of LafargeHolcim in 2016.