Lafarge be allowed mining in Meghalaya forest: Centre

New Delhi, Apr 14 The Centre has concurred with the views of Attorney General G E Vahanvati that French cement giant Lafarge should be allowed to resume mining in the forests of Meghalaya provided it deposit Rs 55 crore for the welfare of the locals.

"Whatever the Attorney General (Vahanvati) has said yesterday (in the Supreme Court) we support it," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on the sidelines of a function here.

He was responding to a query whether the Ministry agree with the Vahanvati's suggestion on imposing conditions on the company before giving it a go-ahead.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court had sought a response from the Centre on an expert committee's report as also other conditions put by the Attorney General for allowing Lafarge to resume mining in the forests of Meghalaya for its Bangladesh plant.