Tata Steel has received green nod for expansion as well as setting up of two units at its Joda plant in Keonjhar district, Odisha, entailing an investment of over Rs185 crore. Based on the recommendation of the Expert Appraisal Committee, the Environment Ministry has “decided to grant environmental clearance to Tata Steel for expansion of Fe-Mn (Ferro Manganese) alloy plant from 0.0504 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 0.06 MTPA at Joda”, a senior official said.
Besides, it has got go-ahead for addition of 0.06 MTPA silico-manganese plant and 0.05 MTPA manganese sinter plant in existing ferro alloy plant at Joda, Koenjhar district in Odisha, the official added. The total project cost will be about Rs185.58 crore, providing employment to about 1,500-2,000 people during the construction and for about 156 persons during operations. The approval has been given with some specific conditions including developing green belt in 33 per cent of plant area and maintaining of gaseous emissions within permissible limits among others, the official said.