The Ore, Mines & Quarries (OMQ) Division of Tata Steel is organizing a four-day biodiversity festival titled “Jaiba Kala Vividhata” at Aqua Park, Central Camp, Noamundi.

The festival was kicked off on 25th December, 2016 by the Chief Guest Mr Shashi Nandkeolyar, IFS, Additional PCCF, Ranchi; Guest of Honour Mr Vishwanath Shah, IFS, Conservator of Forest, Chaibasa along with Mr Pankaj Satija,General Manager (OMQ), Tata Steel and other key guests by lighting the lamp.

Aimed to sensitize about the importance of preserving and protecting biodiversity to the community including children around its areas of operation, the OMQ Division is organising this festival. The key highlight of the biodiversity festival includes art workshops, awareness sessions on biodiversity and cultural programmes for the community and school children. There will be live demonstration of sand art, canvas painting, wood sculpture, earthen pot painting, thermocol sculpture, etc. by eminent artists.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Nandkeolyar highlighted the importance of Climate Change and how it is impacting the entire ecosystem. Reinforcing Tata Steel’s commitment towards conservation, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity, Mr Satija said: “We are using art as a medium to create awareness about conserving biodiversity. Events like this help the community understand the importance of environment protection, in a simpler way. This hands-on art workshop will engage community in various biodiversity activities to build a better appreciation and understanding of the work that is being done here and that has to be done in future for environment protection.

Eminent artists from Odisha and Jharkhand, Mr Manas Ranjan Jena and Mr Brindaban Debnath lauded the efforts of Tata Steel in promoting biodiversity through art and culture. Mr Jena said: “I am delighted to be here today and thank Tata Steel for giving opportunity to the artists to exhibit and promote art and culture in the interiors of the state.”

Besides Mr Jena and Mr Debnath, other noted painters, sand artists and sculpture artists from the states of Odisha and Jharkhand participating in the biodiversity festival are Mr Badal Pramanik, Ms Rinku Pramanik, Ms Soma Bewra, Mr Narendra Mahanti, Ms Leelawati, Mr Pankaj Pal, Mr Snehashish Indra, Mr Sagar Paul, Mr Sona Sarma, Mr Baban Maharana, Mr Prabir Patra and Mr Om Prakash. Local artists include Mr Lalu Chakraborty,Ms  Anu Mali,Mr Salil Birua, Ms Shaquila, Ms  Nandini and Ms Fatima.

Various competitions for school children like sit & draw competition, collage making, craft making from waste materials and thermocol craft competitions will be organized in the four-day biodiversity festival. All these art will be exhibited on the last day of the festival and will be judged by the jury. Prizes will be distributed to the winners and participants on the concluding day.

Others present on the occasion were Mr R P Mali, Chief Noamundi, Tata Steel, Mr Sanjay Virmani, Chief Human Resource Management (OMQ), Tata Steel, Mr P K Dhall, Chief Engineering & Projects (OMQ), Tata Steel, Mr K C Das, Head Administration (OMQ), Tata Steel, Mr S Prabhakar, Working President, Noamundi Mazdoor Union, among others.

The OMQ Division of Tata Steel has taken several environmental initiatives along with the community for the conservation, preservation and restoration of biodiversity. Tata Steel is committed to the conservation, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity in its areas of operation. To formalise this commitment, the Company adopted the company-wide Biodiversity Policy in April 2016 which aims to achieve No Net Loss on biodiversity. For all its mines and collieries in the state of Jharkhand and Odisha, Tata Steel has developed Biodiversity Management Plans. Moreover, in interest of conservation, Tata Steel has committed to avoid acquisition of properties whose development may result in loss of critical habitat for species with special conservation status.

About Tata Steel

Tata Steel Group stands among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 28 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA) and a turnover of US $17.69 billion in FY16. It is the world's second-most geographically-diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and commercial presence in over 50 countries. Established in 1907, the Group’s vision is to be the world steel industry benchmark in “Value Creation” and “Corporate Citizenship” through the excellence of its people, its innovative approach and overall conduct. Underpinning this vision is a performance culture committed to aspiration targets, safety and social responsibility, continuous improvement, openness and transparency. Having bagged the Deming Application Prize and Deming Grand Prize for continuous improvement in 2008 and 2012 respectively, Tata Steel has now been recognised as the global ‘Industry Leader’ in ‘Steel category’ by Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Besides being one of ‘worldsteel’s’ Climate Action members, it has also been awarded the CII ITC Sustainability Prize, the ‘Best-in-class Manufacturing’ by TIME Award, the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant, among several others.