A public hearing for the proposed expansion of the Ferro-Manganese plant of the Tata Steel at Joda in Keonjhar district was held at the Durga Puja ground of Joda east recently.
After expansion, the plant’s production capacity will increase from 0.0504 MTPA to 0.06 MTPA. Simultaneously, public hearing was also held for its another two new plants, including the SI-Mn plant of 0.06 MTPA and Mn sinister plant of .05 MTPA situated in the same premises of the Ferro-Manganese plant.
Nearly, 4,000 people from Joda and its nearby areas were present in the meeting. Of total 84 people, who participated in the hearing, 82 were in favour of the expansion, subject to fulfillment of certain public demands.
The demands include construction of a fly over in the Joda market, establishment of an educational institution of both technical and non-technical, medical facility to common people in Tisco Medical, employment to local youth, etc.
Keonjhar ADM Sangram Keshari Swain presided over the meeting in the presence of Champua Sub-Collector Manish Agrawalla, Regional Pollution Control Officer Sahan Giri and Tata Steel joda chief RR Sathapathi.