Plants over 7 lakh trees in the year- First Indian firm to implement a Biodiversity Action Plan across operations
- Celebrates World Environment Day across business operations in India
Delhi, June 11, 2015: Vedanta Limited, a global diversified natural resources company, invested Rs 361 crore towards environment sustainability projects across its global business locations in FY 2015. Additionally, in line with its World Environment Day theme of: Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care – the diversified natural resources company planted 7.12 lakh trees in India in FY 2015. Importantly, Vedanta is also one of the first companies in India to adopt the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool and has an integrated biodiversity action plan across its sites.
“At Vedanta, we recognize the importance of sustainable communities for the benefit of future generations. We understand that a sustainable community is one that is economically, environmentally, and socially healthy, safe and resilient. It is with this objective, that we at Vedanta have undertaken a set of unique sustainability initiatives across all our locations to engage with local communities in which we operate. We hope to co-create a model of sustainable community living for others to replicate and will soon be implementing the CII’s biodiversity Indian Business Biodiversity Initiative,” said Ms. Roma Balwani, President, Group Sustainability & CSR, Vedanta.
Vedanta had celebrated World Environment Day across its operations. In Rajasthan, group company Cairn India Limited supported a 5-km ‘Run for Environment’ and a cycle rally in which thousands of students, NCC Cadets, army personnel, policemen, activists and sports persons participated. Rajasthan State’s Forest, Environment and Petroleum Minister Rajkumar Rinwa was the Chief Guest at the event and member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board K C A Arun Prasad and Mr. OP Meena -Additional Chief Secretary- Environment and Forest were among the key dignitaries. To create awareness about the biodiversity, Cairn India also conducted ‘Nature walk’ in the ‘Mangar Bani’ forest area in the outskirts of Gurgaon over the weekend. The company’s ‘Go Green’ initiatives extended to a tree plantation drive at the corporate office and across its assets.
Hindustan Zinc Limited, another group company in Rajasthan, distributed 2200 cloth bags amongst shopkeepers under the awareness campaign ‘Say No to Polythene’in Rajasthan. It also conducted various competitions and held a vehicular emission monitoring camp at Dariba and Kayad where 135 were decked at Dariba and 130 vehicles were checked at Kayad.
In Chhattisgarh, over 200 saplings were planted on World Environment Day, kick starting a plantation drive aiming at 1.6 lakh trees, by Vedanta’s BALCO. The company organized awareness programmes for the community, which included competitions for children and the employees.
In Goa, Vedanta’s Iron Ore business organized various competitions on ‘wealth from waste’ based on this year’s Word Environment Day theme ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet Consume with Care. Other activities included planting saplings and conducting a solid waste management awareness drive at the Bicholim Mine, conducting cleanliness drives, awareness drives for school students through mine visit programmes and distribution of solar lanterns to tribal community in Codli.
In Tamil Nadu, Vedanta’s company MALCO Energy Limited planted 400 saplings in its township, with 285 members from the community and the company’s operations, along with conducting awareness programmes through competitions.
Vedanta’s company, Sterlite Copper initiated a week long plantation drive, with planting 200 saplings at various villages in Tuticorin and conveyed the message of ‘Consume with Care’ as a responsibility towards environment.
In Punjab, Vedanta’s company Talwandi Sabo Power Limited organized the planting of over 250 saplings, and distributed jute bags, which are 100% biodegradable, to the community.
In Odisha, the members of Vedanta’s Lanjigarh business unit planted 300 saplings in their township and 200 saplings in villages, Nangalbeda and Goipeta. In Jharsuguda, over 1000 saplings were planted and efforts have been made to extend this drive through planting more than 5000 saplings in the month of June this year. With the slogan of “One Child. One Plant”, more than 500 trees were planted by the children in Vedanta’s township. To ban plastic use in Vedanta’s township, a rally, “Say No to Plastics” at Vedanta Meadows was organised, with Vedanta’s staff and family members, with cloth bags distributed to the shopkeepers.
About Vedanta Limited
Vedanta Limited (Vedanta Ltd) is a diversified natural resources company, whose business primarily involves exploring and processing minerals and oil & gas. The Company produces oil & gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, aluminium and commercial power and has a presence across India, South Africa, Namibia, Ireland, Australia, Liberia and Sri Lanka.
Vedanta Ltd, formerly Sesa Sterlite Limited, is the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, a London-listed company. Sustainable Development is at the core of Vedanta’s strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities. Vedanta Ltd is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.