Odisha: Vedanta Aluminium helps Jharsuguda residents to be monsoon-ready

Jharsuguda: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has taken up comprehensive efforts to help the residents of Jharsuguda district in Odisha boost their preparedness for the onset of the monsoon season, a spokesperson of the company said today.

In particular, the company has implemented a series of proactive initiatives to address the water and health needs of the community during this season.

To mitigate the potential impact of heavy rainfall and enhance the overall resilience of the region’s infrastructure, the company conducted a comprehensive cleaning drive to ensure the smooth flow of drainage systems from Sunarimunda region to the DAV School area and in Maa Samaleswari Nagar of Jharsuguda. These are instrumental in managing rainwater flow and preventing waterlogging issues. Additionally, the damaged sections have been inspected and repaired to ensure optimal functioning, covering a significant stretch of critical drainage infrastructure.

As part of the initiative, Vedanta Jharsuguda has also cleaned and rejuvenated 10 community ponds in Badamal, Katikela, and Dalki gram panchayats of the district, towards facilitating groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting throughout the monsoon season. These steps will help ensure round-the-year availability of water for household, agriculture, and livestock uses. Since the beginning of this year, the company has, in collaboration with local authorities and community members, successfully revived over 19 community ponds, thereby benefiting over 3,000 residents in the district and helping them suitably meet their water needs.

In addition to these efforts, the company has initiated a week-long awareness campaign to educate the community on the prevention and management of major water-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and diarrhoea, which are prevalent in the region during the monsoon season. These sessions will be undertaken by medical professionals through the company’s Mobile Health Unit (MHU), which provides free primary healthcare to communities in remote areas.

The initiative will focus on identifying symptoms, deploying mitigation measures and the importance of timely medical care. By empowering community members through these interactive sessions, the company aims to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their families effectively.

Commenting on the company’s monsoon preparedness programme, Vedanta Limited COO (Aluminium Business) Sunil Gupta said, “The wellbeing of our communities is of utmost importance to us, and our community initiatives in the region are aimed at improving their quality of life. Through the comprehensive monsoon preparedness program, our focus is on mitigating risks, protecting public health, and fostering a stronger, more resilient community. We believe that by collectively addressing the challenges posed during the monsoon season, we can achieve a safer and healthier environment for all.”

Thanking the company for its monsoon preparedness program, Parikhit Naik, Ward Member of Kurebaga village of Dalki gram panchayat said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to Vedanta Aluminium for this initiative, which will help us in preparing for the monsoon season. The pond restoration activity will also ensure an adequate water supply for our community post-monsoon. Vedanta’s unwavering dedication to our welfare is truly praiseworthy, and we firmly believe that with their support, we can ensure the collective well-being of our community during this season.”

Vedanta Jharsuguda’s social interventions in the domains of sustainable livelihood, quality education, women empowerment, health, water and sanitation, bio-investment and community infrastructure reach out to 80 villages in Jharsuguda and nearby areas, benefiting over 3 lakh people in a year. It empowers more than 4,000 women from over 350 SHGs, provides doorstep healthcare services to about 43,000 people annually gives educational support to more than 13,000 students.

Worth mentioning, Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e. 2.29 million tonnes in FY 2023. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.