A panel of the environment ministry has cleared the Rs 450 crore proposal of Jaiprakash Associates to expand the capacity of its cement plant in Madhya Pradesh. The green panel has recommended clearance, with certain riders, for the project in the Sidhi district, where the company operates a two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) plant, said an official statement. The Jaypee Group firm proposes to augment the existing capacity to 3.5 MTPA by putting up one additional unit of 1.5 MTPA within the same facility. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended the proposal for environmental clearance subject to stipulation of specific conditions, the statement added. The conditions include developing a green belt in at least 33 per cent area in and around the plant and earmarking at least 5 per cent of the total cost of the project towards the enterprise social commitment. The existing cement plant was accorded environment clearance in 2007. Jaiprakash Associates plans to put up the new plant on 10 hectares and invest Rs 60 crore to put pollution control measures in place. The Jaypee Group has over 26 MTPA installed cement making capacity and has embarked upon expanding it to around 36 MTPA, which is likely to go on stream in this fiscal.