Vedanta Aluminium to plant 2 lakh saplings across Jharsuguda under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JHARSUGUDA, SEPTEMBER 17, 2025

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has launched a mega plantation drive in Jharsuguda under the Government of India’s Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 initiative. The programme brought together hundreds of government representatives, community members, school students, and employee volunteers with the collective goal of planting two lakh saplings across the district.

The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day 2024 with the vision of expanding India’s green cover, inspiring sustainable lifestyles, and addressing climate change. The campaign encourages citizens to dedicate a tree to their mothers as a symbol of nurturing both life and nature.

This year’s plantation drive was inaugurated at H. Katapali in Jharsuguda and witnessed the active participation of dignitaries including Pradeep Purohit, Member of Parliament – Bargarh; Suresh Pujari, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Government of Odisha; Tankadhar Tripathy, MLA – Jharsuguda; Chavan Kunal Motiram, District Collector – Jharsuguda; and Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, Superintendent of Police, Jharsuguda. On this occasion, the company also planted nearly 2,000 saplings around its operations in Jamkhani and Sijimali.

Several community members, Vedanta employees, and school students joined the drive, which aims to enhance the district’s green cover and enrich its biodiversity. Last year, Vedanta successfully planted one lakh saplings of native species under the first edition of the initiative, most of which have been preserved.

Speaking at the event, C. Chandru, CEO – Vedanta Jharsuguda, said: “At Vedanta Aluminium, environmental stewardship is central to the way we operate. Our pledge to plant two lakh saplings under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 reflects our commitment to ecological balance while strengthening community partnerships. We are honoured to collaborate with the district administration in this noble endeavour.”

MP Pradeep Purohit commended the initiative, saying: “I am pleased to note that Vedanta is committed not only to planting but also to nurturing the saplings. The company has emerged as one of the top industry contributors to this year’s campaign and will inspire many more to join this cause.”

Minister Suresh Pujari added: “This campaign is not just about planting trees but also about cultivating a sustainable mindset among citizens. Vedanta Aluminium’s support demonstrates the shared commitment towards environmental conservation and the region’s holistic development.”

Echoing these sentiments, MLA Tankadhar Tripathy said: “I appreciate Vedanta for its enthusiastic efforts to enhance Jharsuguda’s green cover. The preservation of last year’s saplings highlights the company’s sincere commitment to long-term impact and community development.”

In addition to plantation drives, Vedanta has been promoting biodiversity through initiatives such as establishing a Butterfly Park and preserving vulnerable tree species like Chroxylon Swietenia. Such efforts underscore the company’s focus on grassroots development while building a sustainable future for local communities.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, contributing more than half of the nation’s aluminium output at 2.42 million tonnes in FY25. The company is a leader in value-added aluminium products for core industries and ranked 2nd globally in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 for the aluminium sector. With world-class smelters, an alumina refinery, and power plants in India, Vedanta Aluminium continues to advance its vision of positioning aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.