NTPC takes up plantation of medicinal, aromatic trees

Hyderabad: NTPC has taken an initiative for plantation of medicinal and aromatic trees in and around its power plants.To create an enabling environment through capacity building at various levels and also to get an in-depth view of cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants,

a workshop was conducted at Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University at Rajendra Nagar in Hyderabad on Friday.

Alind Rastogi, IFS, Chief Forest Officer and Executive Director of Environment Management Group of NTPC, who inaugurated the workshop, said the NTPC plans to add value to its afforestation programme which would not only increase the carbon sinking area but also contribute to spreading awareness amongst citizens about the medicinal value of plants.

It could also be used as an income generating and livelihood creation initiative for local villagers in the vicinity of NTPC plants by promoting plantation of medicinal and aromatic crops, he added.

Dr G Satyanarayan Reddy, Director of Research, SKLTSHU also addressed the participants. Dr Ravishankar Reddy, Scientist, Institute of Forest Biodiversity, Dulapally,

explained the cultivation of commercially important medicinal trees and Dr T Susila, Senior Scientist and Head MARPS, Rajendranagar gave demonstration of distillation of lemon grass.

The NTPC, as a responsible corporate entity and being the largest power producer in the thermal power, is alive to the issue of reducing environmental impacts emanating out of its business activities.