Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 10: The Baldota Group has released the findings of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study conducted during the design stage of its ambitious ₹54,000 crore integrated steel plant in Koppal, Karnataka.
The company proactively commissioned this study through Pollution & Ecology Control Services, Nagpur, to assess sustainability and mitigate potential ecological impacts transparently.
Phase 1 of the project, featuring an installed capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), has been thoughtfully designed to align with India’s decarbonisation agenda and the ‘Make in India’ industrial vision, contributing to the national target of producing 300 million tonnes of steel sustainably.
While the company possesses all the necessary licences for environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), segments of civil society have expressed concerns about the project’s ecological impact.
Thus, the company was motivated to publish the study findings proactively. The EIA results confirm that sustainability is embedded in the project’s design.
The plant uses advanced pollution control technologies to keep air emissions and noise levels well within the standards set by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The maximum allowable particulate emission is limited to 50 mg/Nm³. Water needs are estimated at 4,170 m³/h, which will be sourced sustainably from the Tungabhadra Reservoir. Wastewater will be treated using septic tanks and soak pits.
The plant also includes provisions for 295 MW of captive power generation from waste gases and fuels, ensuring optimal resource utilisation and minimal waste.
The project is being developed over 900 acres of land already owned by AARESS IRON & Steel Limited (AISL), with the remainder in advanced stages of acquisition.
Noise level assessments conducted at eight stations in the buffer zone reported levels ranging from 38.0 to 55.5 dB(A), with peak levels during daylight hours meeting operational expectations.
Solid and hazardous waste management, air and water pollution mitigation, and measures for biodiversity preservation have all been incorporated into a robust Environmental Management Plan.
A budget of ₹45 crore—0.25% of the project cost—has been allocated under the Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) framework.
In a statement regarding the report, Nagaraj NB, Vice President of the Integrated Steel Project at BSPL, stated,
“We have taken every aspect of the environment and the smallest issues into account with the highest level of care in designing the plant, always considering the surroundings and the well-being of the people.”
Baldota Group’s project in Koppal arrives at a pivotal moment for the nation’s steel strategy. India’s steel sector stands at a crucial juncture, with finished steel imports increasing by 20% to 8.29 million tonnes in the April-January period of this fiscal year.
India needs to add 100 million tonnes of new capacity to the existing 180 MT by 2030. This integrated steel plant aims to contribute 10% of this target, with its 10.50 MT capacity.
This will be India’s second-largest integrated steel plant, generating direct employment for over 3,800 individuals and acting as a catalyst for ancillary small-scale industries through robust input-output linkages.
The “bubble effect” of such industrialisation will encourage local entrepreneurship, skill development, and enhance regional infrastructure. The plant is designed to produce a diverse range of high-grade steel products to meet the changing needs of domestic and export markets. This supports India’s objective of increasing its steel capacity to 300 MTPA by 2030.
