World Biodiversity Day observed at Tata Steel’s Sukinda unit

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sukinda, May 22:

An awareness session on snakes was organised by Sukinda Chromite Mine (SCM) of Tata Steel, at Jajpur district in Odisha, on the occasion of World Biodiversity Day or International Day of Biological Diversity today.

Subhendu Mallick, General Secretary and founder of Snake Helpline, a Bhubaneswar-based voluntary organization, who is also Honorary Wildlife Warden of Khurda district, conducted an awareness session at Sir Dorabji Tata Park within SCM campus on popular myths versus realities of snakes, identification of venomous and non-venomous snakes, snakebite symptoms, first-aid, importance of snakes in biodiversity, etc.

A total of 300 students of nearby schools, teachers, Sukinda area, Tata Steel officers, members SCM Workers’ Union, etc. attended the session. It was aimed at creating awareness on conservation and importance of snakes in biodiversity among the school children and the community.

Appreciating SCM for the initiative, Basanta Kumar Tripathy, Head of the Department, Botany, Dharmasala College, guest on the occasion said that such sessions would create a better understanding of biodiversity among the children and dispel misconceptions about the reptile.