Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan,’ which is aimed at maximizing green cover in the command areas of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India in Jharkhand along with other nine coal and lignite bearing states of the Country. The virtual event took place in over 130 locations including Delhi and Jharkhand in the presence of Union Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affair Minister, Pralhad Joshi.
Shah, who was the Chief Guest of function, also talked about the importance of environment and role of coal industries. Shah and Joshi laid the foundation of the ecological parks being developed by CCL and other companies. The Vriksharopan Abhiyan was organized by the Ministry of Coal which involves Coal India and its subsidiaries including CCL and lignite PSUs.
The programme was broadcast live at CCL headquarters, Darbhanga House, Ranchi as well as all 12 areas, which brought the different stakeholders together to celebrate the occasion and learn about the different aspects of environmental conservation. MPs- Sanjay Seth, Chandra Prakash Choudhary and Sunil Singh- were present to grace the occasion.
CMD CCL Gopal Singh, Director (Tech/Oprns), VK Srivastava, Director (P&P), Bhola Singh, HOD (Forest and Environment), Soumitra Singh and GMs/HODs of headquarters were also present on this occasion.
The MPs, CMD CCL and Directors inaugurated Kayakalp Vatika as well as planting saplings in the ecological park. In addition to ecological parks, 11 such parks are being developed in areas of CCL with the primary aim of promoting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance through modern techniques.
Altogether, 12 ecological parks being established by the company will cover an area of around 317 hectares. To celebrate the occasion distribution and plantation of about one lakh saplings began to mark the Van Mahotsav in the command areas of the company. The saplings included fruit-bearing and medicinal plants.
All the safeguards against Covid-19 were taken, and the attendees wore masks and adhered to the rules of social distancing while attending the programme. Shah in his speech remembered freedom fighters Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandrashekhar Azad on their birth anniversary and requested the Coal Ministry honor the legacy of these two exceptional freedom fighters by rename the Ecological Parks in their name.
The company will further carry plantation through seed ball technique in its operational areas. Seed ball is a natural technique in which we wrap the seeds in a mixture of clay and compost, and later they are sprayed on selected areas during monsoons for plantations. It is a sustainable approach to promote plantation on rough contours.
Speaking on the occasion CCL CMD Gopal Singh stated that all they will construct the Ecological parks in a time-bound manner. He further retreated that these will be a source of employment and empowerment for people of Jharkhand. He expressed his gratitude to the various stakeholders of CCL and thanked the Jharkhand Government for their continuous support. Singh said that the company is conscious about its responsibility towards the environment and along with Coal production it continuously executes various programs for environmental protection and conservation.
Meanwhile Ranchi MP, Sanjay Seth on Thursday launched “Vrikshaporan Abhiyan 2020” by planting saplings at CMPDI.
On this occasion, a brief presentation on the activities, jobs and services offered by CMPDI was given before Seth as he praised CMPDI and assured all kinds of help support from his end. CMD, CMPDI, Shekhar Saran, D (T/RD and T), RN Jha, and other GM's were present and planted fruit bearing and medical saplings by maintaining social distance.