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Friends Turn Angul's Wastelands into Green Havens
7 Nov
Summary
- Two friends founded Sathee Parivar in 2017 to combat environmental degradation.
- Over 10 tonnes of plastic waste collected from local sites in three years.
- Annual cycling rallies sensitize villagers to forest fire prevention.
In Angul, two friends have inspired a powerful grassroots conservation movement, transforming neglected areas and fostering environmental awareness. Subrat Kumar Pradhan and Siddharth Pradhan founded Sathee Parivar in 2017, driven by concerns over rapid industrialization's impact on local forests and biodiversity.
Their initiative has expanded to include 145 volunteers working with villagers and students. Practical conservation efforts include creating small wetlands in villages, establishing an urban forest on a cremation ground, and organizing a "plastic-free wetland" campaign. This campaign has successfully removed over 10 tonnes of plastic waste from popular tourist and picnic spots since 2023, sending it for recycling.
Furthermore, Sathee Parivar conducts a five-day, 400-km cycling awareness rally every February. This annual event covers over 120 villages near forests, educating residents on the dangers of forest fires and the importance of their prevention. Their larger ambition is to empower young environmental leaders in every village and enhance environmental education in schools.
