Topcem Cement, which is one of the largest producers of cement in Northeast India, has been found selling cement violating rules of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Under the ‘Products’ category of Topcem Cement’s official website, the company claimed to produce and sell 53 Grade OPC, 43 Grade OPC and PPC (Fly ash based), and proudly displayed its BIS License numbers.
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But, it has been found that Topcem Cement has been falsely claiming that its 53 Grade OPC is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
According to sources, validity of Topcem Cement’s BIS certification for 53 Grade OPC (IS 12269:1987 under License No. CM/L5265465) expired on April 30, 2017.
Similarly, there are also reports that validity of Topcem Cement’s BIS certification for PPC (Fly ash based) with IS 1489 (Part I) under License No. CM/L5265463 may also have expired.
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Earlier, Topcem Cement was found violating Clause 3 of the Cement (Quality Control) Order, 2003 while selling its Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC).
Topcem Cement management claims that its Solid Dhalai Cement is a premium product with higher strength, more coverage, faster setting along with anti-rust properties.
But, it came to the notice of a lot of consumers that the license number and the BIS Standard Mark on Topcem Cement’s Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC) bags are that of the Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC).
R.K. Pareek, president (Production) of Topcem Cement had claimed that they were using the BIS Mark (IS-1489-1) as Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC) is a modified version of Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC).
Also Read : Topcem Cement ‘hides’ water analysis report as river Lukha turns ‘deep blue’ in Meghalaya
Topcem Cement had claimed that its Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC) is made from high-quality clinker along with special additives which make the concrete highly strong and durable.
It was claimed that Topcem Cement’s SDC gives more coverage, higher strength, less cement consumption for targeted strength due to higher Blaine and fineness. Moreover, it is an anti-rust cement.
Also Read : Topcem Cement’s Solid Dhalai Cement defies Cement Quality Control standard
If Topcem Cement’s claims on the Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC) are true, it is definitely not a Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC).
Rather, Topcem Cement’s Solid Dhalai Cement (SDC) can be categorized as ‘Hydraulic Cement’. It has all the properties of ‘Hydraulic Cement’. The BIS Mark for Hydraulic Cement is — IS 4032.
In addition to flouting rules of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), it has also been reported that Topcem Cement has been ‘hiding’ its upstream and downstream water analysis report.
Also read : Topcem Cement ‘looting’ indigenous tribal Khasi Jaintia customers in Meghalaya
As people in Narpuh Elaka of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya are blaming the cement factories for turning the water of Lukha river-system ‘deep blue’ and highly toxic, it is apparent that Topcem Cement is deliberately ‘hiding’ it’s Mine Reports.
It raised serious questions as Topcem Cement failed to upload upstream and downstream water analysis report for the last 16 months.
Topcem Cement, which extracts limestone from South Khliehjri mine, did not publish its upstream and downstream water analysis report after August 2019.
Sources said the producers of Topcem Cement also did not publish its Monthly Environmental Monitoring Report after November 2020.