New Delhi: Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) on Friday said seven of its mines have been conferred the prestigious '5-Star' rating, reaffirming the company's unwavering commitment to safe, scientific and sustainable mining practices.
With this, the PSU has achieved the distinction of securing the highest number of 5-Star rated mines among all coal firms in the Ministry of Coal's Star Rating Assessment for the financial year 2024-25, WCL said in an official statement.
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WCL is one of the eight subsidiary companies of Coal India Ltd, which functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal. The government-run company has its registered office in Nagpur.
The release said seven WCL mines that have received the coveted 5-Star rating are Patansaongi Underground Mine of Nagpur Area, Nandgaon Incline Underground Mine of Chandrapur Area, Saoner Mine No. 1 UG and Saoner Mine No. 2 UG of Nagpur Area, Makardhokda-I Opencast Mine and Dinesh/MKD-III OC Mine of Umred Area and Mungoli Opencast Mine of Wani Area.
WCL's 25 mines have been awarded the 4-Star rating, while 15 have secured the 3-Star rating under the same assessment, it said.
Hemant Sharad Pande, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, WCL, hailed the achievement and attributed it to the company's employees and other stakeholders.
"Receiving the highest number of 5-Star rating for our mines is a remarkable achievement that reflects WCL's unwavering commitment to excellence in mining. This recognition is the result of the collective dedication, hard work and professionalism of our employees, officers and all stakeholders associated with the organization," he maintained.
The coal ministry's 'Star Rating' system is a comprehensive performance evaluation framework that assesses mines on critical parameters such as scientific and safe practices, environmental management, land reclamation and rehabilitation, adoption of modern technologies, occupational health and safety, statutory compliance, social responsibility and operational efficiency.
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The ratings serve as a benchmark for promoting responsible mining and encouraging continuous improvement across the coal sector.
The seven 5-Star rated mines have demonstrated exceptional performance across these parameters, particularly in ensuring safe mining operations, environmental stewardship, efficient resource management, technological adoption and employee welfare, the coal miner further added.
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