Vedanta Suratarangini Football Challenge Shield begins

Vedanta Suratarangini Football Challenge Shield 2011, organized by Kalahandi District Athletic Association, started for the 47th time at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Bhawanipatna on August 29, 2011 where 22 teams from across Kalahandi district will lock horns against each other to lift the Cup. The champion this time will play the pre-qualifiers of Kalinga Cup.
The Opening Day function was graced by ADM Kalahandi Mr. Ashok Nayak, Dr. Mukesh Kumar-President Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh and Mr. Sanjay Pattnaik-Vice president–VAL and other intellectuals of Kalahandi.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, said, “Promoting sports culture around the district Vedanta’s one of the prime objectives towards making Kalahandi a developed zone in Orissa. Suratarangini Football Shield is doing excellent work in displaying young talents from across Kalahandi; and we are proud to promote young football players of Kalahandi.”
Suratarangini Football Challenge is the official competition from where Kalahandi district team is also being selected every year whereas VAL has been sponsoring the tournament since 2007-08. Going to a step ahead, the tournament has achieved a new feat this year as Jagabandhu Pattnaik, General Secretary of Kalahandi District Athletic Association, says “Champions will play in the pre qualifiers of the Kalinga Cup”.
The history of Suratarangini Football Challenge goes back to pre-independence era when the Kalahandi Kingdom used to organize the event. However, later, the dynasty handed over to the Kalahandi District Athletic Association to organize.
The final of the knock out tournament will be played on September 23 while a total of 22 teams are participating in the Championship this time.
The Opening Day also witnessed Kalahandi sporting sensation Jogabyasa Bhoi being awarded with the honour of Kalahandi Ratna. Jogabyasa recently conquered Mt. Everest.

ISO 50001:2011 Certification for Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh in Orissa

Vedanta Aluminium Limited, (VAL), an Associate Company of the globally diversified, metals and mining group Vedanta Resources PLC. became the first Mining & Metal Industry in the country to get accreditation for its Energy Management System for ISO 50001:2011 from the British Standards Institution, for efficiently managing the existing natural resources and mitigating the impact of climate change, at its Lanjigarh Unit in Orissa.

ISO 50001:2011, the international standard on energy management, seeks to drive the attention of Industrial houses to lay greater emphasis and focus on augmenting their existing energy efficiency. In other words, it is a carefully drafted and systematically presented framework for entwining energy efficiency into management practices so that the existing energy-consuming assets can be used in a better manner which will ultimately help in reducing levels of Green House Gas emission.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar – President & COO, VAL Lanjigarh, said, “With the obtaining of the ISO 50001:2011, VAL aims to minimize energy consumption to a greater level. The accreditation for ISO 50001 also reflects VAL's determined attempt in energy-saving green practices.

“VAL is committed for overall area development & Environment protection. The Lanjigarh Plant is the only Alumina Refinery in the country having Zero discharge system and aiming to become the First Alumina Refinery in the world by developing Zero Waste road Map. It has already started recovery of valuable Vanadium from waste which is helping in reducing import of vanadium sludge,” he further added.

After attaining of the ISO 50001 certification, VAL, Lanjigarh has adhered to a framework of stringent energy conservation and efficient natural resource usage policy which requires it to align its operations to four aspects affecting energy management such as; (a) Mitigation of Climate change, (b) World class Energy Performance, (c) Support BEE, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India and (d) Energy efficient procurement. Now its system has been certified as per ISO 50001:2011.

Apart from the recent certification, VAL Lanjigarh’s environmental concerns are reflective from the constitution of a core EMS team which is primarily responsible for drafting the System Based Energy Management. In fact, the company has also trained 25 of its employees on EnMS – 16001 and 14 other employees as lead auditors through a reputed external agency.

Dongria Kondhas attend Ratha Yatra at Lanjigarh

Hundreds of devotees poured in with religious fervor and enthusiasm to take part in the grand Rath Yatra (Car Festival) at Lanjigarh which was organized by Lanjigarh Yubak Sangh in association with Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL).
Amidst chanting of mantras and bhajans, the holy chariot of Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subhadra was taken out from the temple on Sunday evening to Mausima temple. Thousands of devotees including the Dongria Kondha people beheld the Pavitra Ratha Yatra which was also attended by Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO – VAL. Dr. Mukesh Kumar participated in rolling out the holy Rath along with Dongria Kondha people like Jitu Jakasika and other employees of VAL.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “Vedanta Always support and nurture the local culture of the region. People of Lanjigarh and its periphery are like family members to us and we are always with the community to celebrate such festivals.”
Among others also present from VAL were, Mr. Venkat Reddy – Head, Power Plant, Suvendu Panda, Sandeep Sethi, Sweety Mukherjee, Niharika Sahoo, Bhagaban Hota, Sweta Upadhyaya, Binaya Pattnaik and Alka Minj.
Safe drinking water and first Aid facility was provided by VAL at the venue for the devotees. Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad President–Sridhara Pesnia conveyed his thankfulness to Vedanta for extending support to organize sucha a grand festival. Many local leaders were present during the festival including, Himadri Pesnia, Sanatan Rout, Srimukha Agasti, Kamraj Dalbehera, Satya Narayan Naik, Subas Mohapatra, Krushna Moharana. Other members of Lanjigarh yuvak Sangh were present to organize the festival.
Apart from Lanjigarh, Vedanta celebrated Rath Yatra with the local community in many nearby areas like Ambodala, Muniguda, Bissumcuttack and Narla which was attended by many tribal people and Dongria Kondha people.

Hundreds of villagers attend Health Camp at Chandanpur of Kalahandi

Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh organized a free Health Camp at Chandanpur village in Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district, Orissa on June 22, 2011 at which nearly 300 villagers were examined and were distributed with medicines free of cost. The health Camp catered mostly people of nearby villages like Jodabandha, Gopinathapur, Nutanbaterlima, Khamankhunti and Chandanpur.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Mukesh Kumar said, “Vedanta Aluminium is concerned and will always take care the health care of tribal people in the region. We regularly organize health camps at nearby villages to make a healthy society around Lanjigarh. Recently we organized camps at Chhatrapur, Basantpada etc.”

Present on the occasion from VAL were Dr. R C Rout – Head-CSR, Ms Niharika Sahoo, Sweety Mukherjee, Surya Panigrahi and Padmini Sahu of CSR department. CDPO Pragyan Rani Barik was also present along with many Local leaders of Chandanpur.

Dr. Sabita Swain, Chief Medical Officer of Vedanta Hospital, Dr. Malaya Tripathy, MO (I/c) Govt. Hospital, Biswanthapur, Dr. S. K. Mishra, MS (Ortho), Dr. A. K. Sahu, Vedanta Aluminium Limited were present at the Health Camp to treat the patient.

Health & MHU Team of VAL went to nearby villages of the venue as a part of pre-publicity step to inform the villagers about the camp and doctors availability during the Health Camp about a week back.

VAL organizes health camps at nearby villages around Lanjigarh regularly which is a part of its aim to make a healthy society.

Ministry of Environment: No Toxic Leakage From Vedanta Aluminium's Refinery

NEW DELHI -(Dow Jones)- The ministry of environment and forests late Tuesday said there is no evidence of toxic leakage from the alumina refinery of Vedanta PLC's (VED.LN) India unit.

The London-based miner's Indian unit, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd., operates a 1 million metric tons a year alumina refinery in the eastern town of Lanjigarh.

Concerns were raised by Amnesty International and allegations in a section of the press regarding a leakage from the red mud pond of the alumina refinery because of heavy rain fall which polluted nearby water bodies, causing a high acidic level, the ministry said in a statement.

But the ministry said an investigation of water bodies around the refinery didn't show any increase in levels of acidity nor was there any breach in the red mud pond, which holds toxic refinery waste.

The federal government had earlier rejected Vedanta's proposal to mine the Niyamgiri hills near Lanjigarh to supply bauxite for the refinery. It has also declined permission to expand the refinery's production capacity to 6 million tons a year.

Source: FOX BUSINESS

Lanjigarh Observes World Environment Day

Loud slogans to care environment and to plant trees were heard from hundreds of school children and local leaders of Lanjigarh periphery area who participated in a ‘Green March’ organized by Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh to mark the World Environment Day-2011. Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO – VAL, Lanjigarh made the flag up of the march who also led the rally.

The ‘Green March’ started from the VAL Township and covered villages like Jagganathpur, Kendubardi and Niyamgiri Vendanta Nagar. They made the villagers aware about the importance of environment and planting trees.

Initiating to convert dry lands into green valley, Dr. Mukesh Kumar announced that the time from June 5 to July 5, 2011 will be marked as ‘Green Month’ where thousands of saplings will be planted. “Since four to five years we have been organizing World Environment Day, likewise this year also. This year we have a special plan of planting more than 35,000 trees in 50 acres of land at and around Lanjigarh area.”

Dr. Mukesh Kumar planted a lot of trees along with other employees of VAL like Rajesh Mohata, Head–Commercial; G Venkat Reddy, Head–Power Plant; Dr. R C Rout – Head CSR & Environment; Satya Sahu from Environment and also local leaders like Sridhara Pesnia–President Lanjigahr Anchalika Vikas Parishad, Chandra Pesnia, Senapati Naik, Lanjigarh Sarapanch Saraswati Munda and several school children.

These plantations were organized at the VAL alumina refinery area, Chhatrapur village and other nearby areas. Dr. Mukesh Kumar encouraged the employees and local people of the nearby villagers to save environment and to plant trees to make the area green and beautiful.

The locals of Lanjigarh area were contended looking at the initiative taken by VAL-Lanjigarh. “Vedanta’s decision to plant 35 thousand trees at Lanjigarh area is a noble initiative. Every year they observe World Environment Day and plant trees but the idea of ‘Green Month’ is very impressive which will definitely make Lanjigarh greener.”

Dilip Tirkey attends Annual Day of DAV Vedanta International School

Former Indian hockey captain Padma Shri Dilip Tirkey was the star attraction of the 4th Annual Day Celebration of the DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh whereas scintillating cultural programmes of Dongria Kondha dance–‘Kui Karisma’ and Rajsthani folk dance made the audience spell bound on the cultural fest on Saturday.
Stalwart Dilip Tirky graced the grand occasion as the Chief Guest and Dr Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer–Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh presided over the function. The function commenced with the lighting of the lamp, followed by the welcome speech by Ms. Sukla Chakraborty, Principal-DAV school. Mr. Sanjay Pattnaik, Vice president-HR, Mr. TPK Patro, Head-Finance of VAL were also present on the occasion.
Dillip Tirkey, in his address in epitome, appreciated the atmosphere around the school and said inspiring words to the students for the future endeavors.
Dr Mukesh Kumar in his motivating speech said, “There will be no constraint of abundant facilities in the form of infrastructure and finance. We will ensure the students here get the latest infrastructure/technology available in the country. Looking at the huge response from nearby tribal areas we constructed a pre-primary block.”
The prizes for excellence in different scholastic and co-scholastic areas were also given away by the invited guests. During the function, the 3rd issue of school magazine, VARTIKA, was released.
The atmosphere was quite enthralling with a variety of entertaining cultural programmes like songs, skits and dances performed by students. The audiences of about 1000 people were captivated by Kui Karisma, Genesh Gatha, Rangeela Rajsthani, Cricket Dance etc. The children also played a short drama – ‘Haal Behaal’ condemning the sky-rocketing price rise of essential commodities and burgeoning scams.
The DAV Vedanta International School, Lanjigarh is the only English medium school in Lanjigarh region with more than 350 students. The school has benefited a number of tribal students in the periphery area along with children of employees of Vedanta Aluminium limited.