Dr. K.S. Bhoi, Orissa Minister of State for Mining, geology, Commerce and transport in Joda on May 20, 1976

Tata Steel began mining the iron ore reserves at the Joda East Iron Mine in the Keonjhar district in 1955. At Joda, iron ore mining is done by the conventional open pit benching system whereby the one body is drilled, blasted and then the fragmented ore is loaded by shovels into dumpers, which haul the material to the crushers. At the processing plant, the run of mine ore is washed and sized into lumps (-37.5 mm + 8 mm) and fines (-10 mm + 0.15 mm). Sized ore containing around 66.5% FE (very rich one) is sent to the blast furnaces in Jamshedpur while the fines are despatched for sinter making.
  

Iron ore mining at Joda

The Joda Mine was modernised in 1944 by incorporating a wet processing circuit. This resulted in an increase in capacity from 0.72 to 2.1 Mtpa. In Joda, iron ore occurs on a hill top and with extensive mechanised open cast mining as well as due attention to ecological factors, a pollution-free ambience is maintained in the entire valley. The mine employs a total of around 480 persons most of whom are housed in a lovely township which has all the modern amenities including a club for the Officers as well as a club for the employees. Other facilities enjoyed by the employees are free electricity, free water, schools inside the township, school bus facility for employees' children studying in nearby Barbil, a marketing complex, Cooperative Stores and Cooperative Credit Society at different locations, a number of parks and gardens, etc. The Company also runs a hospital, which not only provides free medical treatment to the employees, but also, to other local residents at nominal charges. Medical camps like family planning camps, eye camps, etc. are periodically arranged, both for the employees as well as for the local villagers. Sports and social welfare activities are a part and parcel of life in Joda.

Another iron ore mine in the Tata Steel fold located in the Keonjhar district is the Khondbond mine, the lease for which was granted in 1933. Spread over and area of around 1290 hectares, this mine is being worked by semi-mechanised open cast mining. The run of mine ore is extracted by drilling, blasting, shoveling and trucking the material to a processing plant to obtain lamps and fines. Once again Khondbond produces very rich grade material, particularly after the lateritic portion is removed before feeding to the primary crusher. Crushing operations began in 1944 – at present, lumps in the size range – 18 mm + 5 mm are sent to Tata Sponge for sponge iron making while the fines are transported to Jamshedpur for use in sinter making.