Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: In celebration of World Environment Day, Vedanta Sesa Goa is proud to highlight its unwavering commitment to sustainable mining and environmental stewardship. With a range of pioneering initiatives, Vedanta Sesa Goa is setting industry benchmarks in ecological responsibility and community engagement.
In-line with the World Environment Day 2024 theme – ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience ‘- Sesa Goa has led the way with the internationally acclaimed, Sanquelim Mine Reclamation Project which covers over 100 Ha of reclaimed land and comprises of aesthetically designed medicinal gardens – the ‘Nakshatra’ & ‘Charak’ Vatikas & modelled on astrological constellations & ayurveda concept. It also comprises of a Butterfly Garden, ‘Bamboo Pavilion’ & a hugely successful Pisciculture Project. This was a unique project at scale which also saw the successful afforestation of the area with over 750000 myriad but ecologically compatible varieties in consultation with Goa University, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa and the Goa Fisheries Department as needed.
The project also encompassed the setting up of two pioneering establishments the Sesa Technical School (STS) & the Sesa Football Academy (SFA) on reclaimed mine. The STS is set up on the premises of the earlier mining workshop and office were used to run the school which runs Govt. Approved ITI courses for both boys & girls & to-date around 1500+ youth from the mining belt have graduated from this institute and have been employed in various industries.
The SFA, established in 1999, with the aim of nurturing football talent in Goa and positively contributing to the society by producing football players and disciplined citizens. The facility created, replete with modern training amenities, has nurtured over 180 footballers, of which nine have represented India.
Navin Jaju, CEO Sesa Goa, said “As we commemorate #WorldEnvironmentDay today, I want to reiterate the Sesa Goa philosophy and the legacy that reflects our commitment towards #TransformingThePlanet for good. Sesa Goa has been a pioneer in adopting world class sustainable mining practices and environmental protection since past 6 decades and continues to drive efforts towards a greener and cleaner future, as we firmly believe that well-being of our planet is intertwined with our success as a company.”
Other than this, Sesa Goa has taken up fallow land reclamation projects and currently one of the largest such projects is underway in Piligao, Bicholim Taluka. Herein, in collaboration with the ‘Hands to Help’ farmers’ group, 20 Ha of fallow land, approx. 200000 sq m, has been brought under reclamation with preparation & levelling having been completed. The Project has been envisaged in phases and once successfully set up, the Project will ensure increased output and gains for farmers.
Mr Sunil Vaigankar, Dy. Sarpanch, VP of Piligao said that “There are several issues which are faced by farmers and to approach these effectively we have got together to carry out community farming. ‘Hands to Help’ is currently involved in productively cultivating 20 Ha of fallow land. We are thankful to Vedanta for providing us requisite support in the form of expert guidance and introducing us to varied techniques for successfully undertaking the project. We look forward to similar association in the future as well.”
Land reclamation is a vital activity and Sesa Goa has been at the forefront of the endeavour to render productive land previously thought unusable. Sustainable practices and innovative yet ecologically compatible techniques have resulted in extremely successful projects and the Sanquelim Mine Reclamation Project is a shining example of this effort.
