OREANDA-NEWS. February 16, 2011. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has given a go- ahead to Jindal Steel and Power Limited's (JSPL) 6 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) integrated steel plant and 1,000 MW Captive Power plant at Kerjang, Angul in Odisha.

The directions to this effect were posted on the MoEF's website on 14.02.11.

On November 22, 2010, the Ministry had issued a show cause notice to JSPL under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 subsequent to a complaint made by some NGO to the MoEF.

JSPL replied to all the points followed by a personal hearing on 29.12.2010 and also furnished additional information sought by MoEF during the meeting. MoEF, after examining/analyzing all submissions of JSPL, has issued the said letter giving certain conditions u/s 5 of the EPA, 1986.

JSPL has been asked to earmark 2% of the net profit as the CSR budget and to adopt dry quenching in coke oven plant to conserve water, use 100% fly ash generated for cement and brick manufacturing and back filling in the captive coal mine and abandoned coal mines. Further 33% of the area is to be developed as a green belt, coal gasification technology is to be used for manufacture of DRI, to achieve particulate emissions below 50 mg/m3 and adopt rainwater harvesting measures.

The company will comply with all directions given in the MoEF communication.

JSPL is planning to invest Rs. 50,000 Crore to set up a 12.5 million tonne integrated steel plant and 2600 MW captive power plant in Odisha in phases. The company is also investing close to Rs 45,000 Crore on the coal to liquid project in the state to produce an estimated 80,000 barrels per day (4.0 MMTPA) crude oil using environment-friendly indirect coal liquefaction technology from M/s. Lurgi of Germany.