A book on Odisha’s biodiversity titled ‘Aquatic Plants of Eastern India’ was released at the Nalco Auditorium on Sunday by Minister of Industries and School & Mass Education Debi Prasad Mishra. Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Hem Pandey and Nalco CMD Tapan Kumar Chand and Director (Production) V Balasubramanyam were present. The book has been authored by Odisha Forest Development Corporation MD Ajay Kumar Mahapatra and coauthored by Asok Biswal. It deals with the wide varieties of aquatic and wetland plants across 34 districts of Eastern India. Author Dr Mahapatra thanked the Nalco for its active support in publishing the book, which would not only be of immense help to the researchers but also enable the general public in identification and preservation of these species. Nalco CMD Chand underscored the importance of “nature, nurture and future” for sustainable development. Mother Nature needs to be conserved and preserved in its pristine beauty and bounty, he said. In future, many more such environmental initiatives and publications are in offing, Chand added.