Ramanath Rai instructs UPCL to develop forests Under CSR fund
Udupi: The Forest and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai in his maiden visit to Adani-owned Udupi power corporation Ltd Nandikoor here instructed UPCL to develop forests Under the CSR funds on August 22.
The minister inspected the plant development, collected information on power generation and CSR activity of the Company.
After the inspection minister speaking to the media persons said that, under the Companies Act, it is mandatory for companies to spend two per cent of their profits on corporate social responsibilities and we want them to invest in developing the forests for better conservation. The UPCL company is already spending the CSR funds in nearby panchayats.
In Bengaluru, several corporate companies, including Biocon, Wipro, UB group and Mphasis have come forward to revive and protect the lakes and wetlands in the cities. We have lost many of our lakes for various reasons. But the future is in our hands. With corporate companies and industries coming forward there is hope of reviving the lakes in the city and across the state.
UPCL is one of biggest power Project Company in Udupi district as well as in Karnataka. UPCL should show its social responsibility, it should not restrict in developing only the nearby panchayats. The company should expand its social responsibility projects in the conservation of forests across the district through its CSR funds. The forest department is ready to provide 500 hectares of deemed forest area in the district. The company should develop the forest using CSR funds, he added.
Forest department and pollution control board official Shanthappa and Ramachandra, UPCL CEO Kishore Alva and other officials were present.
