TAT Steel announced that vide a letter dated December 21st 2011, ministry of environment & forest has granted environmental clearance to TATA Steel’s proposal of expansion of Khondbond Iron & Manganese Ore Mining Project in Khondbond village in Barbil district of Odisha.

The proposal was for enhancement of
1. Iron ore - From 5.4 million tonnes per annum to 8 million tonnes per annum
2. Manganese ore - From 36,000 tonnes per annum to 100,000 tonnes per annum
3. Iron ore beneficiation plant of 8 million tonne capacity

The mines will be opencast

The life of mine is 14 years for iron ore and 5 years for manganese ore

The capital cost of the project is INR 540 crores and the cost of environmental protection is INR 27.37 crores.

However, the letter states a long list of conditions for this approval