Giving a go ahead to the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee (Industry-I), the Environment Ministry in a recent move has granted nod for the expansion of the Tata Steel plant at Jamshedpur Steel Works in Jharkhand. The go ahead signal has been given to the company subject to strict compliance to specific and general conditions. Among conditions specified, the official said, the company has been asked to take prior permission from the state forest department on the likely impact of the expansion of the proposed steel plant on the reserve forests. In addition, it has also been asked to develop green belt in more than 33% of the area within and around the plant premises according to the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines and the earmarking of the at least 5% of the total cost of the project towards corporate social responsibility. In the project, Tata Steel will expand crude steel production from 9.7 million tons per annum to 11 MTPA at Jamshedpur plant by augmenting the steel manufacturing capacity of the plant in question.
