LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi/New Delhi, May 31: The largest integrated energy producer in India, NTPC Ltd, has issued a renewed Biodiversity Policy 2022 to establish a comprehensive vision and guiding principle for biodiversity conservation, restoration, and improvement.
This Biodiversity Policy is an integral part of NTPC’s Environmental Policy. Its goals are in line with policies on the environment and sustainability. Furthermore, the policy is intended to assist all NTPC Group personnel in contributing to the attainment of the goals set forth in this field.
NTPC has always been mindful about avoiding operations in areas with the highest biodiversity value and judiciously selecting project sites. The company will further strengthen its current efforts to achieve a ’no net loss’ of biodiversity at all of its currently operating sites and ensure there is a net positive balance wherever applicable.
To ensure the Earth’s variety of life in and around NTPC’s business units, the power giant wants to mainstream the concept of biodiversity across the company’s value chain and take a precautionary approach to biodiversity management in all decision-making processes. Beyond the company’s business activities, the strategy strives to take a comprehensive look at local risks to biodiversity.
In 2018, NTPC was the first PSU to publish a Biodiversity Policy. NTPC joined the India Business & Biodiversity Initiative in the same year (IBBI).
Through project-specific and national level training in collaboration with experts, NTPC is promoting biodiversity awareness among local communities, employees, and associates across the supply chain as part of its capacity building.
In the field of biodiversity, NTPC is also collaborating with local communities, organisations, regulatory bodies, and research institutes of national and international reputation.
Furthermore, during the design and execution of its projects, NTPC shall adhere to legal compliances with respect to biodiversity by following norms and regulations pertaining to the environment, forest, wildlife, coastal zone, and green cover.
In a major initiative undertaken by NTPC, it has signed a five-year agreement with Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for the conservation of Olive Ridley Turtles in the coastline of Andhra Pradesh. With the Financial Contribution of Rs. 4.6 Crores and increased participation of the community, the no. of hatchings released in seawater has increased about 2.25 times since intervention by NTPC.
