Noamundi | Dec 26, 2016:
The Ore, Mines & Quarries (OMQ) Division of Tata Steel is organizing a four-day biodiversity festival titled “Jaiba Kala Vividhata” at Aqua Park, Central Camp, Noamundi.
The festival was kicked off on 25th December, 2016 by the Chief Guest Shashi Nandkeolyar, IFS, Additional PCCF, Ranchi; Guest of Honour Vishwanath Shah, IFS,Conservator of Forest, Chaibasa Along with Pankaj Satija,General Manager (OMQ), Tata Steel and other key guests by lighting the lamp.
Aimed to sensitize about the importance of preserving and protecting biodiversity to the community including children around its areas of operation, the OMQ Division is organising this festival.
The key highlight of the biodiversity festival includes art workshops, awareness sessions on biodiversity and cultural programmes for the community and school children. There will be live demonstration of sand art, canvas painting, wood sculpture, earthen pot painting, thermocol sculpture, etc. by eminent artists.
Addressing the gathering, Nandkeolyar highlighted the importance of Climate Change and how it is impacting the entire ecosystem.
Reinforcing Tata Steel’s commitment towards conservation, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity, Mr Satija said: “We are using art as a medium to create awareness about conserving biodiversity.
Events like this help the community understand the importance of environment protection, in a simpler way. This hands-on art workshop will engage community in various biodiversity activities to build a better appreciation and understanding of the work that is being done here and that has to be done in future for environment protection.”
Eminent artists from Odisha and Jharkhand, Manas Ranjan Jena and Brindaban Debnath lauded the efforts of Tata Steel in promoting biodiversity through art and culture. Jena said, “I am delighted to be here today and thank Tata Steel for giving opportunity to the artists to exhibit and promote art and culture in the interiors of the state.”
Besides Jena and Debnath, other noted painters, sand artists and sculpture artists from the states of Odisha and Jharkhand participating in the biodiversity festival are Mr Badal Pramanik, MsRinkuPramanik,SomaBewra, MrNarendraMahanti, MsLeelawati, Mr Pankaj Pal, Mr Snehasish Indra, Mr Sagar Paul, Mr SonaSarma, Mr Baban Maharana, Mr Prabir Patra and Mr Om Prakash. Local artists include Mr Lalu Chakraborty,Ms Anu Mali,Mr Salil Birua, Ms Shaquila, Ms Nandini and Ms Fatima.
Various competitions for school children like sit & draw competition, collage making, craft making from waste materials and thermocol craft competitions will be organized in the four-day biodiversity festival. All these art will be exhibited on the last day of the festival and will be judged by the jury. Prizes will be distributed to the winners and participants on the concluding day.
Others present on the occasion were Mr R P Mali, Chief Noamundi, Tata Steel, Mr Sanjay Virmani, Chief Human Resource Management (OMQ), Tata Steel, Mr P K Dhall, Chief Engineering & Projects (OMQ), Tata Steel, K C Das, Head Administration (OMQ), Tata Steel, Prabhakar, Working President, Noamundi Mazdoor Union,among others.
The OMQ Division of Tata Steel has taken several environmental initiatives along with the community for the conservation, preservation and restoration of biodiversity. Tata Steel is committed to the conservation, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity in its areas of operation.
To formalise this commitment, the Company adopted the company-wide Biodiversity Policy in April 2016 which aims to achieve No Net Loss on biodiversity. For all its mines and collieries in the state of Jharkhand and Odisha, Tata Steel has developed Biodiversity Management Plans.
Moreover, in interest of conservation, Tata Steel has committed to avoid acquisition of properties whose development may result in loss of critical habitat for species with special conservation status.
(Source: http://www.avenuemail.in/)