Greenhouse Gas (GHG): Of the six Greenhouse Gases, Carbon Dioxide is of most relevance to the steel industry. Considerable reduction has been effected by Tata Steel in the Carbon Dioxide emission rate, as is evident when the credit for slag granulation is taken into account. Other Greenhouse Gas emissions do not result from Tata Steel’s activities.

Ozone depleting substances: The Steel Works reduced use of refrigerants to 7.044 tonnes in 2003-04 as against 7.90 tonnes used during the previous year.

Hazardous Waste under Basel Convention: The Company does not import or export any waste, deemed hazardous under the Basel Convention. All hazardous wastes generated are handled as per the requirement of the Hazardous Waste Management and Handling Rules 1989/2000.

Emissions

Tata Steel has undertaken several initiatives, which have resulted in considerable reduction in stack emission. Emissions are well below the Indian and international standards. The emission load including particulate matter, Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen have dropped as a result of the improvement initiative undertaken at the Steel Works.

Tata Steel has implemented a variety of mitigative measures to improve the working environment at the shop floor and work area environment quality at different places.

Water discharges, runoff and the receiving ecosystems

The Company discharges its treated effluent from the works and treated domestic sewage from township to the rivers Subernarekha and Kharkai. Studies carried out by NEERI in the year 1993-95 and 2000 to assess impact on ecosystems/ habitats of rivers have found no significant impact on the aquatic eco-system. Noamundi and Joda Iron Mines as well as West Bokaro and Jharia Collieries have all achieved zero discharge. The domestic effluent is discharged through the septic tank - soaking pit route at the Mines & Collieries. Sewage treatment plants have been provided for the entire township at Jamshedpur. 100% of effluent water is treated before being discharged upstream.

Waste handling

 Most of the solid waste generated from Steel Works is recycled or reused. 18% of the solid waste generated, amounting to approximately 5,50,000 tonnes in 2003-04 was used to fill low-lying areas and for peripheral road construction around Jamshedpur. About 2,00,000 tonnes of fly ash and bottom ash, generated in the power plants was dumped in a designated dump area.

Waste water from the steel making process is being treated with best available physio-chemical methods as well as being recycled. Waste water from the coke plant is treated biologically where organic pollutants are oxidised and decomposed by micro organisms. The Company has reduced the levels of total pollutant discharge in waste water streams from 0.211 in 1999-2000 to 0.178 in 2003-04.