India CSR News Network
NEW DELHI: NTPC has embarked upon accelerated afforestation drive with the State Forest Departments of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Maharashtra to plant 10 million trees during 2016-17 as per guidance of Piyush Goyal, Minister of State ( Independent Charge) of Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines.
“This is in tandem with the recently announced Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC-2030) of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tones of CO2 equivalent through forests and tree cover by 2030.”, NTPC said.
Besides 10 million tree plantations during the current year, NTPC plans to create additional sink by planting 10 million trees across the country in next ten years.
NTPC has already signed MoUs ( Memorandum of Understanding) with State Forest Departments of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and Karnataka for the accelerated afforestation, others are expected to be signed shortly.
As per the MOU, the respective agencies will plant different trees, bamboo or any other local species capable to sequester carbon. NTPC shall assist in plantation and subsequent maintenance for a period of five years.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Forest, Govt. of Karnataka was signed on 27th August 2016, in Bangaluru for plantation of 5,32,950 trees in the State through the Forest Department. The MoU was signed by A.K. Garg, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Avinash Saraswat, GM (PE&M), NTPC at Bengaluru in the presence of Harbans Singh, Group General Manager, NTPC-Kudgi.
(File Picture: Plantation at NTPC Talchar)