The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC Ltd.) has recently renewed its Biodiversity Policy 2022, establishing a comprehensive vision for biodiversity conservation, restoration, and enhancement. This policy is an integral part of NTPC’s Environmental Policy, aligning with objectives geared toward environmental sustainability.
Objectives of the Biodiversity Policy
The main aim of the policy is to support all professionals in the NTPC group, assisting them in contributing to the achievement of targets set in the field of biodiversity conservation. NTPC is careful in its operational decisions, choosing project sites judiciously to avoid high-value biodiversity areas. Efforts are further reinforced to prevent any loss of biodiversity at current operating sites, striving for a net positive balance wherever possible.
One of the central goals of the policy is to mainstream biodiversity concepts across NTPC’s value chain. It also seeks to adopt a precautionary approach for sustainable management in decision-making processes, ensuring the Earth’s variety of life is preserved in and around NTPC’s business units.
Furthermore, the policy intends to systematically consider local threats to biodiversity beyond the company’s business activities.
Additional Steps Taken by NTPC
Steps taken by NTPC include raising awareness among local communities, employees, and supply chain associates about biodiversity through project-specific and national level training in collaboration with experts. The corporation also collaborates with local communities, organizations, regulatory agencies, and respected national/international research institutes in the field of biodiversity.
Adhering to legal compliances relating to biodiversity, NTPC complies with environmental, forest, wildlife, coastal zone, and green cover regulations during its project planning and execution stages. With regard to this, NTPC signed a five-year agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for the conservation of Olive Ridley Turtles on the Andhra Pradesh coastline.
About Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. Despite the Earth’s rich biodiversity, many species are threatened with extinction due to human activities, putting this magnificent biodiversity at risk.
India is home to nearly 8% of global biodiversity, containing parts of four of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. While estimates of the precise economic value of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity are still in development, it’s clear that they yield significant benefits.
Biodiversity also serves as protection from natural disasters and a source of spiritual enrichment, fundamentally linked to our physical and mental well-being.
Related Initiatives
The India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI) provides a national platform for businesses and stakeholders, promoting sustainable management of biological diversity into businesses. Global initiatives include the Kunming Declaration Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
About NTPC Limited
Established in 1975, NTPC is India’s largest power utility with an installed capacity of 68,961.68 MW and plans to become a 130 GW company by 2032. Their goal is to be the world’s largest and best power major.
NTPC has an integrated Rehabilitation & Resettlement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, committed to generating reliable power at competitive prices through sustainable practices. By optimizing multiple energy sources with innovative eco-friendly technologies, NTPC contributes to India’s economic development and society’s upliftment.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024