Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 22, 2015 :

Manganese Group of Mines, Joda East Iron Mine and Katamati Iron Mine of Tata Steel have notched up an enviable record of sort by bagging 26 awards from Indian Bureau of Mines [IBM] in various categories.

The awards were given to the Company representatives on the concluding day of the weeklong celebration of 17th by IBM at a special function held at Puri under the aegis of Regional Office, IBM, Bhubaneswar, these awards were distributed.

During Mines, Environment and Mineral Conservation (MEMC) week (from 27th January to 2nd February 2015), an inspection team, set up by IBM comprising members from different mines, visited the 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, a company press release said.

Sukinda Chromite Mine (SCM) got 7 awards including first prize in overall performance among fully mechanized mines other than (Sundergarh and Keonjhar circle ) for second time. It won prizes in water management, beneficiation, sedimentation, reclamation and rehabilitation making it overall first with seven awards to its kitty. This time a new prize called Mineral Conservation Bandhu Award was instituted and was given to Mr. Yogesh Mohanty of SCM .

Similarly Manganese Group of Mines of Tata Steel including Bamebari Manganese Mine, Joda West Manganese Mine, Malda Manganese Mine bagged 7 awards in different categories including waste dump management, top soil management, sedimentation and water management, air quality management. Bamebari Manganese Mine was also awarded 2nd best prize for overall performance, for the second time.

Besides Joda East Iron Mine (JEIM)of the company has also received 5 prizes including 3rd Prize in overall performance, 1st prize in installation and use of mechanical beneficiation, 2nd prize Noise Vibration and Scientific studies and aesthetic beauty and 1st prize in sedimentation and water management. One award also came in individual event in poster competition. It also won Par excellence award. Khondbond Iron and Manganese Mine and Gomardih mine were awarded prizes for top soil management.

One employee each of SCM and JEIM were awarded Mineral Conservation Bandhu Award. Similarly Katamati Iron Mine also bagged 3 prizes in top soil management, sedimentation and water management and air quality management.

As per the charter of functions of IBM, it promotes awareness about conservation, systematic and scientific development of mineral deposits and protection of environment including restoration and rehabilitation of mined out areas through celebration of Mines Environment and Mineral Conservation week (MEMC), every year.