Joda : Tata Steel’s iron and manganese mines under Joda cluster in Odisha have been honoured with 14 awards at the 27th Mines Environment and Mineral Conservation (MEMC) Week 2025–26 award ceremony, organized on Saturday in Bhubaneswar under the aegis of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
On this occasion, Tata Steel’s Joda East Iron Mine received two separate second prizes under Category-A for Mineral Beneficiation and Reclamation & Rehabilitation. Additionally, the mine was also awarded the second prize for overall performance under the same category. In this category, Khondbond Iron and Manganese Mine also received third prizes for Mineral Beneficiation and Reclamation & Rehabilitation separately.
Similarly, Katamati Iron Mine was awarded the first prize for Systematic Scientific Development and the third prize for Mineral Conservation.
Under Category-B, the Neelachal Mine of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited received the second prize for Reclamation and Rehabilitation.
Officials from various mines received the awards from the Chief Guest, Pankaj Kulshreshtha, Controller General of Mines, IBM. Similarly, Joda West Iron & Manganese Mine won two first prizes in Afforestation and Systematic & Scientific Development.The mine was also awarded first prize for Overall Performance. Bamebari Iron & Manganese Mine won first prize in Reclamation & Rehabilitation and third prize in Sustainable Development. Similarly, Tiringpahar Iron & Manganese Mine has been awarded first prize in Afforestation.
Among others present at the event were G. Kale, Chief Controller of Mines, IBM, Pukhraj Nenival, Controller of Mines (East Zone), Rajesh Kumar, Chief Joda, Tata Steel, G. V. Satyanarayana, Chief, Khondbond Mine, Shambhu Nath Jha, Chief, Manganese Mines, and Rahul Kishore, Chief, Neelachal mine.
