As a mark of recognition of its excellence in minemanagement, Tata Steel’s Sukinda Chromite Mine, Manganese Group of Mines and Joda East, Katamati and Khondbond Iron mines bagged 21 prizes collectively in various categories including 2 prizes under individual category during celebration of 18th Mines, Environment and Mineral Conservation (MEMC) week organised here under the aegis of Regional office of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Bhubaneswar.

The steel major’s mines under its Ferro Alloys and Mineral Division (FAMD) received 12 prizes. Sukinda Chromite Mine of Tata Steel received 4 prizes among fully mechanized mines other than Sundergarh and Keonjhar circle of the state. It bagged first prize in Overall Performance, first prize in Installation and Use of Mechanical Beneficiation, first prize in Noise, Vibration, Scientific Studies and Aesthetic Beauty and second prize in Publicity and Propaganda. Ms Indrani Bhanja, student of class IX of Stewart School of Sukinda Chromite Mine of Tata Steel bagged first prize English Poster Competition. It is pertinent to mention here that recently Sukinda Chromite Mine of Tata Steel became the first mine in the country to roll out a pilot project of Sustainable Development Framework, a concept proposed by Ministry of Mines, Government of India for promotion of sustainable mining operations in the country.

Similarly Manganese Group of Mines of Tata Steel was also awarded 6 prizes in the category of other than fully mechanized mines. Its Joda West Manganese Mine received first prize in overall performance, first in waste dump management and first in publicity and propaganda, second prize in afforestation. While Malda Manganese Mine bagged first in management of sub-grade minerals, Bamebari Manganese Mine got second prize for reclamation and rehabilitation and Mr K Behera of the mine got Paryabaran Bandhu award in executive category for exemplary work for environment preservation.

Mines under Ore, Mines and Quarries division (OMQ) of Tata Steel bagged 9 prizes among fully mechanized mines of Keonjhar district of Odisha. Joda East Iron Mine (JEIM) received first prize in Afforestation, Management of Subgrade Mineral, second prize in overall performance, Installation and Use of Mechanical Beneficiation, third prize in Reclamation and Rehabilitation. Mr. M K Giri of JEIM received Paryavaran Bandhu in Non-Executive Category. Similarly Khondband Iron Mine received first prize in Noise, vibration, Scientific Studies and Aesthetic Beauty. Katamati Iron Mine got first prize in Top Soil Management and third prize in Publicity and Propaganda category.

The awards were distributed on February 6, 2016 in the concluding function which was attended by Mr R K Sinha, Controller General of Mines, IBM, Mr Deepak Mohanty, Director of Mines, Govt of Odisha, Mr A B Panigrahi, Controller of Mines, Central Zone, IBM, Mr M Biswas, Controller of Mines, IBM, Bhubaneswar, Mr M C Thomas, General Manager ,OMQ, Tata Steel, Mr Manikanta Naik, Chief Resident Executive, Tata Steel, Bhubaneswar, senior officers of the company and union members and Other dignitaries.

During the celebration of MEMC week, from January 18 to 23, 2016, an inspection team, set up by IBM comprising members from different mines, visited around 70 participating mines and evaluated the performance on afforestation, waste dump management, top soil management, reclamation and rehabilitation, management of sub grade mineral, installation and use of mechanical beneficiation facilities including crushing, air quality management, sedimentation and water management and aesthetic beauty of the mines.

About Tata Steel
Established in 1907 as Asia's first integrated private sector steel company, Tata Steel Group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of nearly 30 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA). It is now the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Tata Steel Group, with a turnover of US$ 22.32 billion in FY`15, has over 80,000 employees across five continents and is a Fortune 500 Company. The Group’s vision is to be the world’s steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Underpinning this vision is a performance culture committed to aspiration targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement, openness and transparency. In 2008, Tata Steel India became the first integrated steel plant in the world, outside Japan, to be awarded the Deming Application Prize 2008 for excellence in Total Quality Management.

In 2012, Tata Steel became the first integrated steel company in the world, outside Japan, to win the Deming Grand Prize 2012 instituted by the Japanese Union of Scientists and Engineers.

Chief, Corporate Communications, India & SEA
Tata Steel