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.