Public hearing held for iron ore beneficiation plant in Keonjhar | Bhubaneswar News
Keonjhar: The Keonjhar administration on Monday conducted a public hearing to evaluate the environmental impact of a proposed beneficiation plant at the Unchabali iron and manganese mines in Joda. The hearing, held near the project site, was chaired by additional district magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pradhan and Prashant Kumar Kar, regional officer of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB).Around 40 locals voiced their support for the project, albeit with key conditions. Another 14 individuals submitted written opinions highlighting community expectations. Villagers demanded priority in employment for locals, along with improved education, healthcare, transportation and street lighting in surrounding villages.“The public hearing was conducted peacefully, and all opinions were properly recorded,” said Kar. Debasish Manas Ranjan Sethy, mines manager at Unchabali, said, “The plant will produce high-quality iron ore using new technology, employing around 250 people.”
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The mine, spanning 106.1127 hectares, was initially leased to one Indrani Patnaik in 1999 for 30 years. Following recent mining policy amendments, the lease has been extended until 2049.Company officials revealed that the current low-grade iron ore extracted has no market demand, necessitating the installation of modern technology and magnetic separation facilities to produce suitable iron ore fines. The existing situation has affected the livelihood of many mine workers.
