Over 36,000 Saplings Planted Across 14.52 Hectares; More Than 1.8 Million Trees Planted on Reclaimed Mine Land Till Date
Guava Orchard Established in Parsa Village to Strengthen Rural Livelihoods
Ambikapur (Udaipur Block) : On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, significant environmental conservation and community development initiatives were undertaken at the Parsa East and Kente Basan (PEKB) and Parsa Coal Block (PCB) projects operated for Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. The programmes focused on afforestation, environmental awareness, land reclamation and rural livelihood enhancement, reflecting the projects’ long-term commitment to sustainable development.
As part of the ongoing mine reclamation and ecological restoration efforts, more than 1.8 million saplings have been planted across reclaimed mining areas over the years. These plantations, developed systematically on land where coal extraction has been completed, are gradually transforming the reclaimed landscape into a well-established man-made green forest, contributing to biodiversity conservation and ecological balance in the region.
During this year’s World Environment Day celebrations, large-scale plantation drives were carried out in both project areas. Near the Hariharpur dump site of the PEKB project, 31,215 saplings were planted over 12.48 hectares of land. In the PCB project area, an additional 5,100 saplings were planted across 2.04 hectares. Collectively, the two projects achieved plantation of 36,315 saplings over 14.52 hectares, marking a substantial increase compared to the previous year. In 2025, the projects had planted a total of 27,220 saplings.
To raise awareness about environmental protection, a walkathon was organized within the PEKB and PCB premises. Project management officials, employees and representatives of partner agencies participated in the event and took a pledge to promote environmental conservation and sustainable practices. The programme was conducted under the guidance of project and cluster management teams.
In addition to environmental initiatives, efforts were also directed toward improving rural livelihoods through corporate social responsibility (CSR) interventions. Under a CSR initiative supported by the Adani Group, a fruit-bearing guava orchard comprising 100 guava saplings was established in Parsa village. The orchard features the VNR V1 variety of guava, known for its early fruit-bearing characteristics, with plants capable of producing fruit within approximately six months of plantation. The initiative is expected to create additional income-generation opportunities for local villagers and encourage horticulture-based livelihoods.
The programme witnessed participation from the Sarpanch of Parsa village, Gram Panchayat representatives, members of women’s self-help groups and local residents. Community members appreciated the initiative and pledged to ensure the protection and maintenance of the orchard for long-term benefits.
Representatives from the project’s environmental and CSR departments, along with the cluster leadership team, were present during the event. Their participation highlighted the integrated approach being adopted to balance industrial operations with ecological restoration and community welfare.
As part of the broader World Environment Day campaign, the CSR team also coordinated the distribution of 5,000 fruit-bearing saplings among residents of nearby villages on June 3 and 4, 2026. The objective of the distribution programme was to encourage plantation at the household level, promote nutritional security, increase green cover and strengthen community participation in environmental conservation.
Project officials stated that the entire afforestation programme was planned after carefully considering local climatic conditions and soil characteristics. Plant species were selected based on their long-term sustainability, adaptability to regional conditions and ecological value. The successful implementation of the campaign was made possible through coordinated efforts among the environment, CSR, horticulture, mining and administrative departments.
The project management expressed gratitude to all participating departments, local public representatives, self-help groups and members of the rural community for their active support and contribution toward making the World Environment Day 2026 campaign a success.
