The Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), under the Horticulture Department of the Town Services Division, concluded its week-long Wildlife Conservation Week 2025 celebrations with a vibrant cultural evening at Maitri Bagh’s Candle Lawn. The initiative, organized under the guidance of Dr. N. K. Jain, General Manager (Horticulture–Town Services), aimed at fostering environmental awareness and nurturing a spirit of wildlife conservation among school children and citizens.

The valedictory ceremony witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, teachers, and officials. Shri Pawan Kumar, Executive Director (Human Resources), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Shri Dipesh Kapil, Divisional Forest Officer (Durg), was present as the Special Guest. The event was presided over by Shri Utpal Dutta, Chief General Manager (Town Services and Corporate Social Responsibility).

The programme began with a melodious welcome song by school children, followed by an exhibition of paintings created during the Wildlife Week competitions, which drew keen appreciation from the guests. The celebrations commenced earlier in the week with a Painting Competition on October 5, followed by Elocution Competitions on October 7 and 8. From October 9 to 11, under the initiative titled “Ek Safar Maitri Ka”, school children were provided free guided visits to Maitri Bagh Zoo, offering them an opportunity to understand the significance of wildlife and biodiversity more closely.

During the closing ceremony, the Chief Guest and dignitaries presented awards to the winners of the painting and elocution competitions. The winning students shared their thoughts on wildlife conservation, earning warm applause from the audience. The cultural segment of the event featured captivating performances, including welcome songs, solo renditions, and traditional Chhattisgarhi and Rajasthani folk dances, which added colour and vibrancy to the evening.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pawan Kumar said, “Nature has blessed us with the invaluable heritage of wildlife and forests. Preserving them is not merely a departmental task but a collective responsibility. Such initiatives are vital in cultivating environmental consciousness and responsibility among the youth.” He commended the children’s participation and reaffirmed BSP’s unwavering commitment to environmental and wildlife conservation.

In his address, Shri Dipesh Kapil emphasized that “The success of any initiative lies in public participation and awareness, and today’s event has truly reflected this spirit through the enthusiasm of the children.” Presiding over the event, Shri Utpal Dutta highlighted the ecological importance of wildlife, noting that “The balance of nature depends significantly on wildlife. Their conservation is a continuous and shared duty, which the Horticulture Department has been diligently pursuing.”

 

Delivering the welcome address and annual report, Shri S. B. Srinivas, General Manager In-charge (Horticulture, Land and Electrical), detailed the department’s year-round environmental initiatives and extended greetings to the dignitaries. The event was compered by Shri Supriyo Sen from the Sports, Cultural and Civic Facilities Department, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. N. K. Jain.

 

The panel of judges for the competitions included Shri Shatrughan Swarnkar and Shri Mohan Barl for the painting competition, and Ms. Arpana Banerjee and Ms. Meeta Roy for the elocution competition.

 

The success of the Wildlife Week celebrations was attributed to the dedicated efforts of Shri Mridul Gupta, Shri Gaffar Khan, Shri Rajesh Sharma, Shri Arif Khan, Shri Lalit Kumar, Shri A. K. Sinha, Shri Sandeep Naidu, Shri Yogesh Kumar Chandrakar, Shri Shankarlal Agrawal, Shri Kheeru Prasad, Shri Chandramani Chandrakar, Ms. Kiran, Shri Harinder, Shri Madangopal Singh, and Shri Prem Sahu, along with the active support of officers and staff from the Horticulture Department.

 

 

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RDJ/KRV/PJ

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