by Suman Gupta
Book is an ode to more than half-a-century-old Tata Power’s conservation initiative ‘Act for Mahseer’, which has led to Blue-Finned Mahseer being taken out of IUCN endangered list.
Featuring Tata Power’s strong legacy in biodiversity conservation in the Western Ghats, while creating awareness of the lifecycle of Mahseer fish species
Organized tree plantation to mark the onset of monsoon tree planting season
June 9, 2023: Tata Power and the Ela Foundation commemorated World Environment Day by launching a pioneering addition to their biodiversity book series— “Mahseer Conservation: A Saga of Success”, Tata Power legacy (1970 – 2021)”, a photographic book showcasing the entire life cycle of Mahseer fish. The book represents a significant milestone, as it delves into the captivating world of Mahseer, often referred to as the “Tiger of the Freshwater” which was listed as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). With consistent efforts under its more than 50-year-old ‘Act for Mahseer’ initiative, the Blue-Finned Mahseer species is now out of IUCN endangered list. highlighting the company’s unwavering commitment to native biodiversity conservation.
The book was officially launched on June 5th, on the occasion of World Environment Day, in the presence of distinguished guest Mr. N Pravin [IFS], Chief Conservator of Forests- Pune, along with senior officials from Tata Power, including Mr. Vijay Namjoshi- Chief Generation, Mr. Parag Railkar- Chief – Civil, Estate, Mr. Prabhakar Kale- Chief Hydros and Dr. Satish Pande, Director of the Ela Foundation and Publisher of the book who also graced the launch ceremony. The book presents a vivid and in-depth portrayal of the Mahseer’s life, capturing every stage of its growth journey from a young fingerling to its magnificent full-grown form. It also explores various aspects, including the archaeological context in conservation, the cultural significance of Mahseer in Indian and world cultures, taxonomy, and embryology through stunning photographs, and sheds light on existing threats and the sport of Mahseer angling.
To make World Environment Day even more remarkable, the Chief Guest and Tata Power officials also carried out a symbolic tree plantation to mark the commencement of the monsoon tree plantation efforts. The plantation drive was carried out under Tata Power’s volunteering initiative ‘Tree Mitra’ a countrywide tree-planting campaign. Under the ‘Tree Mittra’ initiative over a million trees have been planted across India, and 6 lakh saplings were planted in the year 2023. Today Tree Mittra has become a fast-growing ecological movement picking up pace in more than 15 states, opening avenues for virtual plantation for climate champions, who are committed to make sustainable ecosystems attainable across the country.
In the foreword of the book, Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD of Tata Power, expresses his belief that this book will inspire individuals, and encourage individuals from nature enthusiasts to climate action champions, to contribute towards the creation of a better sustainable world.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. N Pravin, Chief Conservator of Forests, Pune said, “I am delighted to be a part of the launch of this remarkable book on the life of Mahseer by Tata Power and the Ela Foundation which highlights the importance of preserving biodiversity and provides valuable insights into the fascinating world of this species. I appreciate Tata Power’s decades-long commitment towards this critical cause and believe that these efforts should motivate more individuals and organizations to actively contribute towards nature conservation. Together, we can make a significant difference in safeguarding our precious ecosystems for generations to come.
“At Tata Power, we firmly believe in our responsibility to protect and nurture local biodiversity. Through our dedicated initiatives, we actively work towards preserving and enhancing natural ecosystems in the areas where we operate. Act for Mahseer initiative and the launch of this book further reinforces our century-old commitment to biodiversity conservation. We urge more individuals and organizations to join us in our efforts in preserving the natural heritage for future generations.” Said Mr. Prabhakar Kale- Chief Hydros.
Tata Power’s unwavering dedication to conserving the endangered Mahseer fish over the past five decades has been yielding significant results. Notably, the Blue-Finned Mahseer (Tor Khudree), one of the species bred at the Tata Power hatchery, was successfully removed from the IUCN endangered list. This noteworthy achievement serves as a testament to Tata Power’s substantial contribution to the preservation of the Mahseer species. Furthermore, the company’s efforts extend beyond breeding as it has played a pivotal role in training over 300 fisheries scientists and facilitating valuable knowledge exchange with international experts.
Background of ‘Act for Mahseer Project’ : In the 1970s, the population of Mahseer fish started declining and concerns arose about the potential extinction of this elegant species. Mr. Sumant Moolgaokar, former Chairman of TELCO (now Tata Motors), and Mr. S P Manektala, former Managing Director of Tata Electric Companies (now Tata Power), both passionate anglers, expressed worry about the decreasing population of Mahseer across Maharashtra and the entire country. Discussions with Dr. C V Kulkarni, Retired Director of Fisheries in Maharashtra state, gave hope and formulated an action plan. The first batch of 14,000 Mahseer eggs was harvested in 1970 from Walwhan Lake, and with the enthusiastic involvement of Mr. S N Ogale, the annual egg collection increased to over 500,000, and then Mr. Vivek Vishwasrao took charge. While the Bluefin Mahseer is no longer on the endangered list, Tata Power will continue breeding them upon request from various Fisheries departments, with a greater focus on the golden Mahseer, which remains an endangered species.
About Tata Power : Tata Power (NSE: TATA POWER; BSE:500400) is one of India’s largest integrated power companies and together with its subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities, has an installed/managed capacity of 14,240 MW. The Company has a presence across the entire power value chain – generation of renewable as well as conventional power including hydro and thermal energy, transmission & distribution, and trading. The Company developed the country’s first Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical technology. With 5,380 MW of clean energy generation from solar, wind, hydro, and waste heat recovery accounting for 38% of the overall portfolio, the company is a leader in clean energy generation. It has successful public-private partnerships in generation, transmission & distribution in India viz: Powerlinks Transmission Ltd. with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. for evacuation of Power from the Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to Delhi, Maithon Power Ltd. with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1,050 MW Mega Power Project at Jharkhand.
Tata Power is currently serving more than 12.9 million consumers via its Discoms, under a public-private partnership model viz Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. with the Government of Delhi in North Delhi, TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited, TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited, TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited, and TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited with Government of Odisha.
With a focus on sustainable and clean energy development, Tata Power is steering the transformation as an integrated solutions provider by looking at new business growth in distributed generation through rooftop solar and microgrids, storage solutions, EV charging infrastructure, ESCO, home automation & smart meters et al. In its 108 years track record of technology advancements, project execution excellence, world-class safety processes, customer care, and green initiatives, Tata Power is well poised for multi-fold growth and is committed to lighting up lives for generations to come. For more information visit us at: www.tatapower.com
