New Delhi: ITC Ltd. has spent Rs 53.48 crores on environment sustainability and soil & moisture conservation under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), says ITCs annual report 2018-19.
As per the report, the company is ensuring ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agroforestry, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water including contribution to the Clean Ganga Fund set-up by the Central Government for rejuvenation of river Ganga.
Intending to provide clean and green cover, the company has taken various initiatives on a large scale. Through social forestry programmes, the company initiates an afforestation drive where they greened 33,982 acres of land.
Currently, the programme is running across six states in 16 districts, covering 5,087 villages, impacting over 121,557 households. As of now, this initiative has covered nearly 7.33 lakh acres and generated employment for about 135 million people in rural areas.
This large-scale initiative has also created additional carbon sinks for tackling climate change.
With an aim to ensure water security for all stakeholders in the factory catchments, the company also initiated soil and moisture conservation programme to minimise risks in agricultural livelihoods arising from drought and moisture stress.
The programme promotes the development and management of local water resources in moisture-stressed areas by facilitating community, covering 43 districts in 15 states.
