Chennai, Oct 23 (Reporter) The operational Mines of the public sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) have been accorded the prestigious 5 Star and 4 Star ratings by the Ministry of Coal at the National level. The awards were presented by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, at the Scope Convention Centre, Scope Complex, New Delhi, on October 21. The awards were received by NLCIL CMD Prasanna Kumar Motupalli and Dr.Suresh Chandra Suman, Director (Mines) and Director (P and ;P) AC along with the heads of the respective mines, a NLCIL release here on Wednesday said. The Star Rating Policy of the Ministry of Coal is a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing the performance and sustainability of coal and lignite sector entities. By establishing a comprehensive framework for evaluating and rating Mines based on various parameters, the policy promotes transparency, accountability and competition among Coal/Lignite producers, while championing best practices in environmental management, safety and operational efficiency. To recognize outstanding performance and foster competitiveness, the Ministry conducts star ratings for all operational mines. This assessment includes operational efficiency as well as crucial environmental and sustainability metrics. Mine owners self-report their performance through a dedicated portal called Star Rating Portal, with validation from the Coal Controller Organization (CCO). For the Financial Year 2022-23, the ratings were conducted between June 2023 and February 2024, with results announced in April 2024. Out of a total of 380 mines which participated, 43 achieved Five-Star Rating. Remarkably, 80% of the operational Mines of NLC India Limited, specifically Barsingsar Lignite Mine, Lignite Mine IA, Lignite Mine I, and Talabira II and III OCP received this prestigious accolade. The Lignite Mine-II received the 4 Star rating. It is also worth mentioning that Barsingsar Lignite Mine secured the second position nationally, while Lignite Mine IA was ranked seventh, highlighting their commitment to excellence in the industry. The 5 Star and 4 Star ratings achieved by NLCIL Mines at the National level are a testimony to the commitment of NLCIL to operating efficiency and sustainability initiatives...////...