India CSR News Network
JODA (Odisha): The OMQ (Ore Mines & Quarries) Division of Tata Steel observed World Water Day at Joda on March 22, 2017. The theme of this year’s World Water Day was ‘Managing Wastewater’.
With an objective to keep the river bodies clean, employee volunteers, students and residents of Tata Steel at Joda came forward to clean Sona river at Joda. Sona river is the lifeline of Joda as so many lives are dependent on this source of water. More than 300 people including Tata Steel employees, women and students of Tata DAV Public School participated whole heartedly in cleaning the river.
On this occasion, the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located at Centenary Park, Joda was also inaugurated by Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Keonjhar in the presence of Pankaj Satija, General Manager (Ore Mines & Quarries), Tata Steel, Mukesh Bhamu, IPS, SDPO, Barbil, Sumit Soren, IIC, Joda and Mukesh Ranjan, Chief Joda, Tata Steel. The STP with 150KLD capacity is capable of treating sewage water discharged from Ward no 7 and 8 of Joda.
Rajesh Pandit thanked Tata Steel for sensitising people on water conservation and said: “Small steps towards water conservation can help the society in a big way. I am sure that technical sessions on water management and conservation will bring in some positive changes in the community.”
Pankaj Satija said, “We need to put in our best to conserve water for a sustainable future. We also need to keep our river bodies clean not only for our survival but also for the survival of aquatic species.”
An expert session on conservation and management of wastewater was convened at Joda Valley Club. Banabihari Mishra, Retired Professor, Geology, Dr Sohan Giri, Regional Officer, OSPCB, Keonjhar, Dr R R Dash, Professor, Civil, IIT Bhubaneswar, Dr Prasad Dash, Officer, Odisha State Biodiversity Board delivered technical sessions on water management.
Students of Tata DAV Public School and St. Teresa School spread the message of water conservation through skits and other cultural performances.