New Delhi: JSW Steel has received the environmental clearance for setting up an integrated steel unit and captive power plant in Jharkhand with an investment of Rs 35,000 crore. The project would create up to 30,000 additional indirect jobs.
As per the proposal, the company will set up a 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity integrated steel unit and a 900 mw captive power plant as well as a township spread across over 3,800 acres in seven villages near Sonahatu block in Ranchi district.
"Early this month, we gave environment clearance to JSW Jharkhand Steel's proposal to install an integrated steel plant along with a captive power plant in Ranchi district," a senior Environment Ministry official told PTI.
The green clearance has been given subject to some conditions based on the recommendations of the government's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the official said. JSW has signed a pact with Jharkhand government for the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 35,000 crore and generate additional 20,000-30,000 indirect jobs, the official added.
During the first phase, the proposed plant would have a capacity of about 5 MTPA of liquid steel. Among specific conditions, the company has been asked to earmark 2.5 per cent of the total cost of the project towards Enterprise Social Commitment based on public hearing issues and prepare a detailed corporate responsibility plan for next five years for the existing-cum-expansion project.
The company has been asked to cover all permanent workers under Employees' State Insurance Scheme and provide housing for construction labour within the site with all necessary infrastructure.
Besides, it has been asked to develop green belt in 33 per cent of the project area within the plant premises with 20-30 meters wide green belt on all sides along the periphery of the project area. The company has proposed to invest Rs 1,750 crore on pollution control, treatment and monitoring systems including Rs 14 crore for greenbelt development.
The proposed project is in line with the government's National Steel Policy that has set a target to produce 110 million tonnes (MT) of steel by 2020 from the current level of 72 MT. At present, JSW has steel plants in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra with a combined installed capacity of 18 MTPA.
