Environment Management Division

Steel making is a complex process and operating such an energy and resource intensive industry provides many environmental challenges. As a responsible corporate citizen, SAIL takes its responsibility sincerely towards protection of environment and the community in which it operates. The Corporate Environmental Policy of SAIL also emphasizes upon the company “conducting its operations in an environmentally responsible manner, complying with applicable regulations and striving to go beyond”.

SAIL is committed to ensure clean environment in and around all its plants and mines. To improve the environment inside the works and in the surrounding habitat, SAIL has put in best efforts such as regular maintenance and consistent operation of pollution control systems, effluent treatment plants, recycling of solid wastes and adoption of cleaner and environment friendly technologies. The concerted efforts have resulted in resource conservation, waste reduction as well as increase in green cover. Salient environmental performance trends are detailed below:

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

SAIL has effectively adopted waste minimization strategies, including conservation at source, recovery and recycling, to manage the wastes associated with steel making. The utilization of solid waste has increased to about 91.4 %.

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

SAIL has progressively introduced ISO : 14001 certification at its plants and mines, resulting in improvement in waste management, water & energy conservation, noise reduction, control of stack and fugitive emission, improved housekeeping, improved work zone environment etc. The following units of SAIL are accredited to EMS -ISO 14001: 

BSP & SSP - entire plant and township 

DSP & BSL - entire plant 

RSP (Silicon Steel Mill, Sinter Plant II, Hot Strip Mill, Plate Mill, Environment Engineering Department, ERW Pipe Plant, SW Pipe Plant, Special Plate Plant and RSP Township) 

ISP (Rolling Mill Complex) 

Dalli Iron Ore Mine 

Meghahatuburu Iron Ore Mine 

Kiriburu Iron Ore Mine 

Kuteshwar Limestone Mines 

VISL- entire plant 

Faridabad, Chennai, Kalamboli and Dankuni warehouses of Central Marketing Organisation 

Environment Management System implemented at Hyderabad Warehouses under CMO and BTSO, Vizag under Transport and Shipping Organization during 2012-13.

GREENERY EFFORTS

SAIL Plants and Units have taken up massive plantations programmes using scientific methods to develop green belts, parks, clean and green surroundings, tree lined avenues and townships. Over 181.7 lakh trees have been planted since inception.

During the year 2012-13, over 2.25 lakh saplings were planted in Steel Plants and Mines. Species were selected to be endemic to the region, so that they are accustomed to grow in the local soil and prevailing climatic conditions.

ECO-RESTORATION EFFORTS

Restoration and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems is essential for maintaining and enhancing bio-diversity as well as replenishing the eco-system services. Under an agreement signed between Department of Bio-technology, Government of India, Centre for Environment Management for Degraded Eco-system (CEMDE), University of Delhi and SAIL for ecological restoration of barren mined-out areas and solid waste dumps, over 200 acres of limestone mined-out area at Purnapani have been restored to productive use.

Restoration project has also been initiated at Bolani Iron Ore Mine under the guidance of Ambedkar University, Delhi and Centre for Environment Management for Degraded Eco-system (CEMDE), Delhi University with the central objective of restoring ecosystem functions and services in the selected area of the mines which will also help in enhancing the livelihood of the local people.