Minister Debi Prasad releases Book on Odisha’s Biodiversity

Bhubaneswar, Aug 18: A book on Odisha’s Biodiversity titled ‘Aquatic Plants of Eastern India’ was released at Nalco Auditorium here on Sunday by Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister of Industries, School & Mass Education, Govt. of Odisha, in the presence of Dr. Hem Pandey, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India, Shri Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO and Shri V. Balasubramanyam, Director (Production), NALCO. The book has been authored by Dr. Ajay Kumar Mahapatra, MD, Odisha Forest Development Corporation and by Shri Asok Biswal. The book deals with the wide varieties of aquatic and wetland plants across 34 districts of Eastern India.

Expressing gratitude, the author of the book, Dr. Mahapatra, thanked NALCO for the active support in publishing the book, which would not only be of immense help to the researchers but also enable the general public in identification and preservation of these species.

While praising the work done by the authors, Shri Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO, underscored the importance of Nature, Nurture & Future for sustainable development. He further said that the biotic & abiotic elements of ecology need to be in proper balance and Mother Nature needs to be conserved and preserved in its pristine beauty and bounty. It may be noted that NALCO since its inception, has given utmost importance to the issues related to environmental care and has been instrumental in conducting biodiversity surveys, as well as publication of books on such subjects. In future many more such environmental initiatives and publications are in offing, Shri Chand added.