 "Vedanta-Balco drives odd-even formula for clean environment")
Taking a leaf out of Delhi government’s initiative, Vedanta-controlled Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (Balco) had introduced the odd-even formula for the vehicles entering inside the plant premises.
The formula came into effect from April 4 when four-wheelers with even registration numbers were allowed entry in the plant. The next day, vehicles with odd registration numbers were allowed inside the premises located in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district. The same will be repeated on April 13-14 and April 22-23.
“The company has initiated the formula on experiment basis and will be continued after examining the result,” B K Sriwastwa, Balco’s head of corporate affairs, told Business Standard. Initially, only four-wheelers will be covered and in the later phase, the rule will be made application for the employees riding two-wheelers too, he added.
There are 1,200 employees in Balco reporting for duty on four-wheelers. The number of two-wheelers entering the plant premises in different shifts is around 4,000.
Sriwastwa said the initiative had two objectives; to protect the environment and the employees. “The reduction of number of vehicles would ultimately help in road safety too,” he said, adding that the limited vehicles inside the plant would also facilitate smooth drive for the heavy vehicles and equipment rolling around in the premises.
Exemption has been given to certain vehicles like two wheelers, ambulance, fire safety vehicles, women employees, technical vehicles, Govt. vehicles, visitor vehicles and vehicles hired for employees. The rule will be valid from 8 am to 8 pm on the days of implementation.
The formula would apply only on the vehicles entering the plant as the management does not hold rights to implement it in the township. “Balco Management has appealed to officers, employee and contract worker to cooperate with the plan,” Sriwastwa said. This will help in saving fuel, will save the environment from the emission of harmful gases from vehicles and also strengthen road safety, he added.
Balco is reportedly the first corporate to introduce the formula in the country. The London-listed Vedanta Resources Inc holds 51% stake in the company that was incorporated in 1965 as Public Sector Undertaking.
