Indus Valley Times

Various initiatives like Sapling Plantation, Surface Water Treatment Plant, Wheel Washing System, Electric vehicles to reduce carbon foot print implemented.

Mass Plantation drive, Cleanliness Drive and Housekeeping Audits conducted at various locationson the occasion.

By Ankita Das

Bhubaneswar, June 7: In line with the theme of #beatplasticpollution, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) observed World Environment Day across its operating locations in Odisha. Events were conducted to raise mass awareness and deliberate onactions to protect the environment which is facing constant challenges due to plastic pollution.

Major initiativeslike 20,000 sapling plantation, commissioning Surface Water Treatment Plant of 160m3/Hr capacity for rainwater management and reuse, installing Wheel Washing System to capture dust coming from tyres of trucks and hiringthree number of Electric vehicles for internal movement of employees to reduce carbon footprinthas been taken upin the year 2022-23.

To mark the day, various programmes like debate, online quiz, video messages on environment protection and poster making competitions on environment were organised, where the employees and their family members and contractual workers participated. A mass cleanliness drive on the National Highway, plantation drive and housekeeping Audit at Pellet Plant, Power Plant and AMNS Port were organised. HR & Environment Deptorganised a customised Environmental awareness programme forchildren of employeesas part of their summer camp activities. The CSR team of AM/NS India also organised quiz and essay competition at Govt ITI at Paradeepin collaboration with Environment Department.Students and teachers at the institute planted fruit bearing and other medicinal plants inside the institute premises. A plantation drive was also carried out in the premises of Biju Memorial Hospital at Paradeep. Dr. Basant Kumar Rout, Chief Medical Officer, Biju Memorial Hospitalappreciated noble efforts of AM/NS India for its contribution towards environmental sustainability.

Attending the event, Sri Puskar Chandra Behera, Regional Officer, OSPCB, Paradeep appreciated the efforts of the company towards managing various hazardous and other wastes in the plant and meeting optimum standards of ambient air quality.He appreciated the management for taking steps towards achieving Zero Liquid Discharge to safeguard of the environment.

On the occasion, Sri Suresha G, Executive Director, Odisha Operations, AM/NS India said, “We all have immense responsibility to protect our environment. We have planted 20,000 saplings inside the plant premises in 2022-23, totalling the greenbelt development from 33% to 40% thereby meeting the requirement of industries located in severely polluted area category. This year we aim to plant 10,000 more trees inside the plant and distribute more than 1,000 trees outside our plant boundaries to reduce the carbon footprint and have a greener environment”.

Similar plantation drives, housekeeping audits and related awareness campaigns were also organised at the Beneficiation Plant at Dabuna and mining locations at Sagasahi and Thakurani.Various competitions like quiz and postermaking have been conducted for both employees and contractualworkers.

An awareness march on the theme of discouraging single use plastic and its impact on environment was conducted for truck drivers and shop keepers outside the mining locations.Various competitions like sloganframing, postermaking,and quiz competition werealso organised on the same theme. Jute bags were distributed during the event toreplace plastic and encouragesustainable practices among the employees and business associates.

Inthe closing ceremony at Paradeep, a skit on ‘Save Mother Earth’ was organized by employees of CPP plant. The winners of various competitions were rewarded by Sri P.C. Behera, RegionalOfficer,State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Paradeep along withSri Suresha G in the presence of other senior leadership and employees