Tata Steel Mines in Odisha bag 21 awards from IBM

Bhubaneswar: As a mark of recognition of its excellence in mine management, 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 two 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 four 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.

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 the Ministry of Mines for promotion of sustainable mining operations in the country.

Besides, Manganese Group of Mines of Tata Steel was also awarded 6 prizes in the category of other than fully mechanized mines. Its Joda West Managanese 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, BamebariManaganese Mine got second prize for reclamation and rehabilitation and Mr K Behera of the mine got ParyabaranBandhu 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 mechanised 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.

MK Giri of JEIM received Paryavaran Bandhu in non-executive category, 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 propagnada category.

The awards were distributed at the concluding function yesterday which was attended by RK Sinha, Controller General of Mines, IBM, Deepak Mohanty, State Director of Mines, AB Panigrahi, Controller of Mines, Central Zone, IBM, M Biswas, Controller of Mines, IBM, Bhubaneswar, MC Thomas, General Manager, OMQ, Tata Steel, 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.