Why in news?

The Union Ministry of Mines has awarded both the mining leases of the Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Limited (SMIORE) with the five-star Rating for the year 2020-21.

Highlights:

• The SMIORE’s two awards were among the five five-star rating awards presented to the mining leases in Karnataka for 2020-21.
• The SMIORE has consistently been receiving the 5 Star rating for its Mining Leases without a break ever since the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) was introduced by the Union Ministry of Mines in 2014-15.

• The Five-star Rating Awards are based on the assessment of various parameters of the sustainable development framework prescribed by the India Bureau of Mines which include systematic & scientific mining, mineral conservation, environment protection, employee welfare and contribution to society.