Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has come out with a statement that has surprised many concerned with the POSCO steel plant case.

He went on to say that the stand taken by the expert appraisal committee (EAC) that favored the POSCO steel plant in Orissa does not mean that the project has got a green signal. The promoters were imposed on with tough conditions over the green signal given by the EAC on the Rs 51,000-crore project.

The response from Ramesh has put what could be India's biggest foreign direct investment project in doubt as he said that the final decision for POSCO would only come after a fortnight.

The experts committee had almost discarded the recommendations of the 4 member team that accused the Orissa government and POSCO of making a mockery of the environment regulations. EAC ruled down all the objections raised by the team and supported the claim of Orissa government for the rehabilitation of the project and public hearings.

The POSCO investment by far be the largest in the nation with the company planning to pump in $12 billion in a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) integrated steel plant and a captive port in Orissa.