On World Environment Day, Singareni announces complete ban on plastic usage
Hyderabad, June 5 (UNI) On the occasion of World Environment Day, with the global theme 'Let's put an end to plastic pollution globally', state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) on Thursday declared a complete ban on plastic usage across all its areas, including the Hyderabad office.
Singareni Chairman and Managing Director N. Balaram made this impactful announcement, emphasising particularly that plastic bottles must not be used under any circumstances.
At a plantation drive held in the office premises at Singareni Bhavan here, Balaram stated that the company has already been undertaking various eco-friendly measures and in some areas had reduced plastic use. However, aligning with this year's global slogan, the company is now enforcing a total ban on plastic-made items like bottles, plates, and similar materials across its offices, mines, and departments.
He appealed to all officials, employees, and workers of the organisation to extend their support to this initiative and advised them to minimise the use of plastic even at home.
Balaram shared that he has personally planted over 19,000 saplings across Singareni areas out of his deep commitment to environmental conservation.
Inspired by this, the company's directors and employees have also begun actively planting trees, which he described as an encouraging development.
He urged every individual to plant at least three saplings and informed that SCCL would distribute saplings free of cost to all those interested.
He noted that three decades ago, temperatures in the Singareni regions used to rise above 50 degrees Celsius during summer. Thanks to the extensive plantation efforts by SCCL, many of these saplings have now grown into forests, helping to bring down temperatures to about 40 degrees Celsius.
In contrast, in Naini, Angul district of Odisha, where SCCL operates a coal mine, local residents have reported temperatures exceeding 50 degrees. Hence, he mentioned that Singareni is now ready to undertake large-scale plantation activities in that area as well.
The event was attended by Executive Director (Coal Movement) S.D.M. Subhani, General Manager (Marketing) N.V. Rajasekhar Rao, and other senior officials and employees from various departments.
The CMD also presented prizes to winners of the essay competition conducted on the theme of environment and distributed jute bags to all participating employees.
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