NTPC Ltd, India's largest integrated energy producer, has issued a new Biodiversity Policy 2022 to establish a broad vision and guiding principles for biodiversity conservation, restoration, and enhancement.This Biodiversity Policy is an essential component of the NTPC Environmental Policy. Its goals are consistent with environmental and sustainability policies.
Furthermore, the policy is intended to assist all NTPC Group professionals in contributing to the achievement of the targets set in this field.
NTPC has always been conscious of avoiding operations in areas of high biodiversity value and carefully selecting project sites. The company will intensify its current efforts to achieve a 'no net loss' of biodiversity at all of its currently operating sites and to maintain a net positive balance wherever possible.
The power company intends to mainstream the concept of biodiversity across NTPC's value chain and to take a precautionary approach to biodiversity management in all decision-making processes in order to ensure the diversity of life on Earth in and around NTPC's business units. The policy also aims to take a systematic approach to local threats to biodiversity that extend beyond the company's business activities.
In 2018, NTPC was the first PSU to issue a Biodiversity Policy. In the same year, NTPC joined the India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI).
As part of its capacity-building efforts, NTPC is raising biodiversity awareness among local communities, employees, and supply chain associates through project-specific and national level training in collaboration with experts.
In the field of biodiversity, NTPC also collaborates with local communities, organizations, regulatory agencies, and research institutes of national/international renown.
Furthermore, during the planning and execution of its projects, NTPC will adhere to legal compliances with regard to biodiversity by adhering to rules and regulations related to the environment, forest, wildlife, coastal zone, and green cover.
In a major initiative, NTPC has signed a five-year agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department to conserve Olive Ridley Turtles along the state's coastline. With a financial contribution of Rs. 4.6 crores and increased community participation, the number of hatchings released in seawater has increased approximately 2.25 times since NTPC intervention.
