Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) country's leading steel-making company and a "Maharatna" Public Sector Enterprise has won the prestigious SCOPE Meritorious Award for Environment Excellence & Sustainable Development. Hon'ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the award to Chairman, SAIL, Mr. C.S. Verma, in the presence of Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Shri Anant Gete and Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Shri P Radhakrishnan in a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan on 5th November, 2014. Complimenting public sector companies for their contribution to the nation, His Excellency Shri Pranab Mukherjee, said, "CPSEs have, over time, contributed greatly towards fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility obligations. I am sure they will continue with these activities in the future also." He was of the view that CPSEs have a vital role in making India a global manufacturing hub.
Chairman, SAIL, Mr Verma dedicating the award to SAIL employees said, "It is the commitment, dedication and determination of every employee of SAIL which has been the driving force behind our efforts to achieve milestones of excellence in the field of environment and sustainable development". He further added, "SAIL plants are bringing in new clean and green technologies which will lead to reduction in the air & water pollution, energy use and increase in utilization of wastes. Going beyond complying with the regulatory requirements, the company has taken various measures as a part of good governance. Our Company has focused on environment management as a key area of operations." Further detailing the sustainability efforts, he said that the company has framed a Sustainable Development Policy and has allocated funds for implementation of various Corporate Responsibility efforts. He also elaborated on other initiatives taken by the company that have made SAIL a front-runner in meeting various sustainability parameters. Mr. Verma added that focus of SAIL on sustainability and environment excellence has helped the organization to bring in more environment-friendly technologies and improvement in waste management, water & energy conservation, noise reduction, control of stack and fugitive emissions, improved housekeeping etc.
SAIL plants have effectively adopted waste minimization strategies, including conservation at source, recovery and recycling. Extensive local and centralized recirculation systems, curbing leakages, recycling of used water for other less exacting operational purpose etc. have been gradually introduced in different shops across SAIL.
Picture Caption:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee, presenting the 'SCOPE Meritorious Award for Environment Excellence & Sustainable Development for the year 2012-13' to SAIL Chairman Mr. C.S. Verma, in presence of Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Shri Anant Gete and Minister of State for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Shri P Radhakrishnan.
