Tata Steel through the years has undertaken various measures towards the reclamation and afforestation of land to create a sustainable environment. The Company has significantly improved its environmental performance over the last 13 years.
Vision for Biodiversity
Did you know that our wonderful planet has an estimated five million to hundred million species and we are just one of these? What we do know, however is that the human population is growing rapidly, while most animals and plants are becoming rarer and fewer.
A total of 17,291 species on this planet are known to face the threat of extinction due to irresponsible human activities. As a result, we are increasingly risking the loss of the very foundation of our own survival, the variety of life on our planet or the' biodiversity'. Millions of people and millions of species all share the same planet, and only together can we enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
Taking a cue from this, Tata Steel has been investing in environmental sustainability and has played a vital role in boosting the biodiversity of the areas where it operates. Tata Steel's commitment towards environmental issues associated with steel production processes is reflected in its Vision 2012 statement. Besides, the Company also has a structured management system in place since 2000.
For detailed information, please refer to the Environment Book.
Impact on bio-diversity
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Through its Environmental Policy, Tata Steel is committed to:
- Identifying, assessing and managing environmental impacts.
- Developing and rehabilitating abandoned sites through afforestation and landscaping.
- Protecting and preserving biodiversity in the areas of operation.
At Tata Steel, Bio-diversity is assessed during the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and forms part of the Environmental Clearance Process.
Tata Steel has extensive reclamation and afforestation programmes in place, which forms part of their endeavour to maintain bio-diversity along with implementation of new programmes. Initiatives are underway to improve and develop several areas through various protection measures:
- Improved survival rate of saplings from 30% to 85% in the past 10 years.
- The Company raises 400,000 saplings every year across various locations.
- Involves the local community in this process of sapling plantation in the area.
- Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) has created and supported many ‘Save Forest Groups' in Noamundi and Joda, to safeguard existing forestland.
- TSRDS has encouraged local people to protect the forest as a valuable sustainable resource.
- Local people have been trained on the development of orchids, saplings and other products to encourage the use of forest products as a means of livelihood, and thereby protect the habitat.
Tata Steel has adopted a holistic approach to understand its local eco-system. Several initiatives have been taken in favour of this:
- A zoo has been constructed at Jamshedpur to protect animals and to create awareness about wildlife among the citizens of Jamshedpur and the surrounding community.
- Sir Dorabji Botanical Parks have been developed at Jamshedpur, West Bokaro, Dhanbad, Noamundi and Joda during the last decade to showcase and protect flora.
- Parks exhibit various ornamental plants, fruit trees, more than 300 varieties of cacti, 100 varieties of roses, rare flowering plants, rock gardens, spices, condiments and medicinal plants.
Land leased under forest area
Tata Steel's plant and mine areas situated through the state of Jharkhand has vast areas under lease as forest and non-forest land. While the total area under lease is 13022 hectares, total forest area leased out is 3306 hectares.
Impact on protected and sensitive areas
No reportable change to natural habitats has occurred from the Company's activities as indicated by Environmental Impact Assessment Studies conducted for various units including mines and collieries. There are no World Heritage sites, sensitive areas, Biosphere Reserves or Protected areas within the operational areas of the Company. No sensitive area, as defined by the Environment Protection Act 1986 in India, falls within a 10 km radius of the Company's operations. However, the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a protected area, is situated at a distance of 10 km from Jamshedpur. The Regional Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and carrying capacity study conducted by NEERI in May 1995 and in 2000 and EIA studies conducted in 2005-06 indicate that there is no significant environmental impact on Dalma Wild Life Sanctuary.
Habitats protected or restored
Tata Steel takes measures to minimise any eventual damage to nearby habitats.
- A reclamation and afforestation programme ensures that habitats are restored and improved with extensive tree plantation where appropriate. More than 240 hectares of mined out areas have been reclaimed with plantations so far.
- 25,000 saplings were planted at various locations during 2007-08.
