Joda, August 26 (odisha.in) Tata Steel has converted a waste land into an attractive park and is dedicating it to the citizens of Joda valley in the district of Keonjhar on the occasion of its centenary year.
A couple of years back this barren waste land by the side of the main road in Joda was just a parking place for the trucks or grazing field for the animals. Tata Steel took the initiative to landscape this waste land.
Today the Centenary Park curved out in this 22,500 sq ft area, stands as testimony of its environmental management and landscape development.
Inauguration ceremony of Centenary Park at Joda was graced by Dhanurjaya Sidy, MLA, Champua as Chief Guest. Dr R Srikanth, General Manager (OMQ) was present and addressed the gathering.
The function was aslo graced by Shailesh Verma, Chief (Joda) Tata Steel who delivered the Welcome address and P K Mallick, Head (FAP), Tata Steel who gave away the Vote of Thanks. The proceedings were conducted by M Z M Ansari, Head (HR/IR), Joda.
Dhanurjaya Sidu in his address said that some time back senior citizens of Joda, media men and others were worried that due to increased traffic and iron ore transportation, the atmosphere at Joda became unbearable.
Tata Steel has given a shy of relief to the citizens of Joda valley by dedicating the Centenary Park where people can breathe fresh air, stroll for relaxation and ultimately this would serve as perhaps the only external comfort zone in the town.
He said that the dream come true through Tata Steel who has built this park in their lease area for the people of Joda valley and the Tata Steel management to be thanked for this unique gift in its Centenary Year.
On a different note Sidu highly praised the role played by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) in the villages in and around Joda and also in far flung remote areas. He said that TSRDS is reaching out to those areas where others are yet to venture.
He cited the example of recent outbreak of measles epidemic in Nunagathani in Chamakpur Panchayet of Joda block where TSRDS has done unparallel job to curb the epidemic. He also praised the recently inaugurated ICU in Tata Steel Hospital at Joda which is one of its kind in this mining belt.
Sidu thanked Tata Steel and Tata Steel Hospital at Joda for shouldering the responsibility during his duress in February last when he was shot and was in brought to the hospital in precarious condition.
He said that in front of mob fury at that time hardly any such private institution would have dared to take the risk of offering treatment to him but Tata Steel did not even thought twice and came forward in saving his life.
The park is laid with three varieties of grasses like Kentucky, popularly known as Carpet Grass, Selection-1 and Broad leaf grass. Besides this the park would house two varieties of flowering trees, 13 species of flowering shrubs and varieties of ornamental plants.
And as the sun sets in the horizon of Joda valley the park will be bathed with sophisticated lights illuminating even the blades of grasses and 3 Ball Fountains will add colour to the beauty of this park. Garden lights, Pathways etc will make the visitors comfortable in this park after a long day of working or at the day break while taking a morning stroll.
Two varieties of Flowering trees Kancher, and Amaltas, Flowering shrubs like Bougainvillea, Behunia, Galfini, Thuja, Cassia biflora, Ornamental plants like Rose (around 350 plants), Hibiscus, Musanda, Lantana etc will be the flora world in this park.
The big Ball Fountain will have 18 lights while the smaller ones will have 12 lights each and will be operated by 10 HP and 5 HP Submersible Pumps.
Odisha.in