Jharkhand government today said alternative arrangements would be made if expansion of Tata Steel caused pollution hazard to educational institutions situated near the proposed site in Jamshedpur.

"Tata Steel got conditional sanction from union forest and environment ministry on May 11, 2010. In the event of any pollution affected the school and college after commencement of  production then alternative arrangements would be made," HRD Minister Baijnath Ram told the assembly.

Replying to a question from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) member Arvind Singh on pollution concerns following the expansion proposal of the steel company, Ram said companies were responsible to provide new infrastructure to educational institutions elsewhere to address pollution concerns, if any.

The union government sanctioned the steel company's expansion programme from 6.8 mtpa to 9.7 mtpa on 31 conditions, he added.

The minister, however, quoted the Jharkhand Pollution Control Board informing that work by the company was in progress at Bari Maidan in Jamshedpur and the new unit was expected to be functional next year while not ruling out the possibility of pollution hazard to a school and a college situated near the site.

"The pollution board is keeping a watch on it and will ensure meeting all conditions," he said.

He assured the house that the management of the company would be asked to make alternative arrangements in the event of any pollution-related problems.