BALCO Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainability through Plastic Bag Elimination Initiative ‘PAHAL

Shabdawani Samachar, Tuesday 7 July 2020, Korba. Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), a global leader in aluminium, has been promoting sustainable development since its inception. As one more firm step in this direction, BALCO has recently launched ‘PAHAL’, a plastic bag elimination program in its township amongst its employees and business partners. 
BALCO is one of the first organizations in Chhattisgarh to introduce plastic elimination program, which was taken up in association with Chamber of Commerce, Balconagar. Environment-friendly bags were distributed among the residents as part of the drive and township residents are encouraged to use those in place of single use plastic bags. 

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO & Director – BALCO, said, “‘Pahal’ is a step towards apprising our communities of the ill-effects of plastic and making everyone a part of the solution. Our ethos of ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste and Zero Discharge’ continues to guide our environmental and social performance. Effective management of resources, safety and environmental sustainability are pivotal to how we operate and produce aluminium - the green metal for a greener tomorrow.
BALCO plant is operating with minimum workforce and limited resources, adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines issued by the central and state authorities. The organization has marshalled its resources to employ preventive measures for its employees, business associates and communities at large in, around and far beyond its plant area.
BALCO has also rolled out several technology-driven safety initiatives like implementation of BALCO safety mobile application which is a great tool for real-time monitoring of safety performance and implementation of appropriate measures at the site, basis data-driven analytics.
Mr. Ankit Singh, Assistant Manager-Lizmontagens India Pvt. Ltd, a business associate providing his services in plant operations, expresses his gratitude to BALCO for being an organization that has taken care of his safety with equal importance as its employees. Besides stringent implementation of hygiene measures, sanitization and other industrial safeguards, immunity-boosting food and health supplements are being provided to everyone.
Mr. Sanjeeb Kumar Panda, who provides his services in power plant operations says that he has worked in many organizations, but the importance that BALCO accords to safety of personnel and sustainable practices is unmatched. The entire work force is inducted and trained in safety practices, and usage of PPEs is strictly monitored. Not only him, but his entire family feels safe as he works in safe conditions. 
BALCO has also been proactive in executing all the preventive measures to fight the pandemic and ensuring the safety of the workforce. It is the first organization in Chhattisgarh to have pre–medical and periodic medical examination of all the employees as well as business partners in BALCO hospital as per the statutory requirements. 
In its commitment towards zero harm, zero waste and zero discharge, BALCO controls ambient air quality using top-of-the-line technologies like Fume Treatment Plant (FTP). Fly ash disposal from its power plant to the ash dykes are disposed through advanced High Concentration Slurry Disposal (HCSD) systems. The same fly ash is then utilized 100% to make bricks and for road construction. The company has set up a scientific Solid & Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) center in its township to convert organic waste into compost. As part of its commitment to increase green cover in and around the plant site, BALCO has planted more than 5.5 lakh trees. The organisation has also been successful in recycling 100% water in its smelter operations.