Bhubaneswar, 30/09/2018: In a run-up to mark the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the aluminium major National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), organised host of activities under the swachhata hi seva movement today at Bhubaneswar. Led by Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO, distinguished personalities from media houses, bureaucrats, social activists, artists, and students from various institutions including XIMB, KISS, KIIT, Astha School of Management, IIIT, BGU participated with much enthusiasm in the cleanliness drive and shramadan event at Nalconagar, Bhubaneswar.
Dr Chand advocated the use of aluminium foil as an alternative to plastic packaging, which is eco friendly and can be recycled. “To meet the challenges of providing alternative solutions to the packaging industry, NALCO would set up an aluminium foil manufacturing unit at Kamakshyanagar in Odisha in coming days. ”, said Dr. Chand.
Speaking about the NALCO’s eco friendly initiatives, Dr. Chand also outlined on the future plans like adoption of the EMRION-Nano technology on mass scale for effluent treatment, development of solid waste management technology in association with IIT and extraction of marketable iron concentrate out of Red Mud, which is otherwise treated as an industrial waste.
NALCO has also taken up various initiatives under its CSR activities for development of Puri as swachh iconic place project having project outlay of Rs. 170 crore and creating facilities and infrastructure for the benefit of the pilgrims. Initiatives like eco-friendly battery operated vehicles for the elderly and specially-abled people at Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack railway stations, provision of safe drinking water kiosks, development of Puri Gandhi Park etc has been widely appreciated by the public at large.
“The importance of safe and clean drinking water is of utmost importance as at tourist destinations, the congregation of people is more and maintaining cleanliness is a daunting task. At such places, eco-friendly and essential initiatives plays a major role and will benefit the large number of devotees who throng the holy place”, added Dr. Chand.
To mark the occasion, NALCO distributed hand wash kits to more than 200 children from slums and provided white canes sticks to the blind persons.