The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 19, 2024
Tata Steel’s Sukinda Chromite Mine has been honoured with the prestigious “Excellence in Biodiversity” management award at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) ITC Sustainability Awards 2023. Under the umbrella of the company’s Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD), the mine earned this accolade for its exceptional dedication to biodiversity conservation within and around its operational domain.
The award was presented by Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited and President-Designate of CII, at the 18th CII ITC Sustainability Awards ceremony held in New Delhi. Devraj Tiwari, Head of Mining at Sukinda Chromite Mine, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Pankaj Satija, Executive-In-Charge of FAMD at Tata Steel, emphasized the company’s deep-rooted commitment to environmental stewardship. He stated, “We are mindful of the quote of Chief Seattle that “Earth does not belong to human beings. Human being belongs to the Earth”. As a responsible corporate citizen, we have been continuously strengthening our biodiversity management practices and taking up numerous sustainability initiatives for environment conservation. I thank the jury members for recognising our unwavering commitment towards preserving biodiversity. It will surely inspire the team to continue giving our best for the cause.”
The assessors of the award lauded Tata Steel’s community awareness programs, such as Prajatiya Khadyotsav (an authentic tribal food and culture festival), Green Therapy (an ethnobotanical knowledge sharing festival), Jaibakala Vividhata (an event promoting biodiversity through art), Sarjom Baa (a tribal music festival), as well as conservation measures for the local silkworm species Sukinda Ecorace, Butterfly Garden, and Medicinal Park.
Tata Steel’s comprehensive approach to biodiversity management aligns seamlessly with its broader sustainability objectives, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotion of circular economy principles, and fostering social inclusion. This recognition further underscores Tata Steel’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
