IndiaCSR News Network
MUMBAI : Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power Company, has always been committed to the ecological development and preservation of natural resources. Taking cognizance of the alarming decline in the population of Mahseer, an endangered fish species, the Company has undertaken the Mahseer conservation initiative since 1975.
The Company has set up a breeding center at Walwan Gardens, Lonavla as part of their eco-restoration and eco-development project for the lakes. Today, Tata Power has established standard techniques of breeding the Mahseer species post in-depth research of over several lakhs of fingerlings.
In continuation with its conservation efforts, and on the request of Dr. Dilip Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) & Member Secretary Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board Nagpur, Tata Power’s Mahseer breeding centre at Lonavla supplied 10,000 healthy Mahseer fingerlings to Hira Bambai Reservoir near Nagpur.
The objective of this initiative is to help establish a Mahseer Conservation Centre at the Hira Bambai Reservoir and focus on reviving its population. The Tata Power hatchery at Lonavla also receives requests every year from fisheries department to release Mahseer fingerlings in rivers of various states, including Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Assam, in an attempt to conserve the Mahseer to other parts of the country.
Commentating on the programme, Mahesh Paranjpe, Chief-Hydro & Renewable Operations, Tata Power, stated “Tata Power has remained committed to the cause of Mahseer conservation for over 40 years now. Sustainability, as a core business value, is deeply ingrained in the Tata Power culture, and we are dedicated towards Bio-diversity conservation. We will continue to conserve and release Mahseer fingerlings to other parts of the country, promoting biodiversity, and breath in new life to what was a depleting wonder of the aqua world”
APCCF Dr. Dilip Singh extended his deep appreciation to Tata Power for helping them in their Mahseer conservation programme. Post monsoons, a second set of 10,000 Mahseer fingerlings will again be sent to the Hira Bambai Reservoir.
The Company has been supporting the Fisheries and Forest Departments in various conservation projects like fisheries and afforestation. Till date, the Company has produced in excess of 10 million seed of Mahseer and distributed them all over India. The hatchery continues to breed over 3 to 4 lakhs of fingerlings every year. The breeding center is the only one till date which breeds and supplies Mahseer fingerlings to various states in India.
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