The Ramco Cements Limited has received international recognition for the ecological restoration of its limestone mine in Pandalgudi, Tamil Nadu. The site became the first in Peninsular India to earn Advanced Certification from The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS).

The certification highlights the project's contribution to biodiversity recovery and local community support. TGBS is recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is supported by over 250 scientists and academics worldwide.

Project Scope and Impact

The restoration project covers over 500 acres of worked-out mines. A 234-acre site within this area was assessed and certified. Work began in 2018 with technical support from Auroville Botanical Gardens. Plantations started at the end of 2019 and are expected to be completed by 2027.

Since inception, the site has recorded over 72 species of birds and 53 species of butterflies. This represents a significant shift from a previously barren mine with no significant biodiversity.

Community and Strategic Outcomes

The area was officially opened in 2022 by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It has since hosted over 13,000 visitors for educational experiences for local schools, colleges, and training institutions.

The project inspired the Rajapalayam Masterplan. Consequently, Rajapalayam was declared one of four towns in Tamil Nadu on a fast track to carbon neutrality by 2041.

P. R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman of the Ramco Group, stated that the work aims to serve as a blueprint for the mining industry. Dr David Bartholomew, CEO of TGBS, noted that the project demonstrates high-integrity restoration through independent assessment and long-term commitment.

Ramco Cements shareholders approved a final dividend of ₹2.50 per share and the reappointment of Managing Director P.R. Venketrama Raja at the company’s 68th Annual General Meeting held on August 20, 2026.

The meeting, conducted via video conferencing, saw the adoption of audited financial statements for FY26 and the ratification of cost auditor remuneration. All four resolutions were passed with requisite majorities.

Key Resolutions Passed

Shareholders voted on four ordinary resolutions during the meeting. The promoter group held 100,554,774 shares and voted in full on all agenda items.

Voting Dynamics

Total votes polled stood at 183,768,129 out of 236,292,380 outstanding shares, representing a 77.77% participation rate. The promoter group cast 100% of their holdings in favor of every resolution.

Institutional investors accounted for the bulk of public voting, with 80,781,112 shares polled from the public-institution category. Non-institutional public shareholders polled 2,432,243 votes.

Notable Opposition

The resolution to reappoint Managing Director P.R. Venketrama Raja faced the highest dissent. While it passed with 97.16% support, it received 5,223,966 votes against. This opposition originated entirely from the public-institution category, which voted 6.47% against the reappointment. Other resolutions saw negligible dissent, with fewer than 1,200 opposing votes each.

Corporate Governance

The Board ratified remuneration of ₹7,50,000 (exclusive of GST) to M/s. Geeyes & Co., Cost Accountants, for auditing cost records related to cement manufacturing and wind energy generation for FY27.

Statutory auditors SRSV & Associates and Ramakrishna Raja And Co., along with secretarial auditor Sriram Krishnamurthy & Co., attended the meeting via video conference. The e-voting process was scrutinized by K. Srinivasan of M/s. M.S. Jagannathan & N. Krishnaswami.