Even as cyclone Hudhud has snatched away ‘Green Paradise’ from Ukkunagaram, the township of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, efforts are on to revive the lost greenery by engaging technical and horticultural experts.
Before Hudhud hit the coast, VSP had such a canopy that the plant was not visible for those visiting the Hilltop guesthouse and the administrative complex.
Serious setbackVSP was famous for its sylvan surroundings because of which it earned the epithet of a ‘Plant within a Forest’ and Green Paradise of Visakhapatnam. VSP had planted around five million trees on its premises and was marching ahead with its objective of planting one tree per tonne of steel has got a serious setback due to the recent cyclone.
About 60 per cent of the plants have been damaged and the uprooted trees and hanging branches are presenting a ghostly look. RINL management is taking steps for removing the uprooted trees and damaged branches in a systematic way.
The management is initiating measures to ensure survival of the partly damaged plants by taking technical expertise and help from external Horticultural professionals to revive the greenery in and around Ukkunagaram.
A working group has been formed to take up plantation in the plant, township and green belt areas in a systematic, scientific and time-bound manner to get back its past glory of being the plant which produces green steel.
“The uprooted trees and the lost greenery have saddened each and every one of us. Now it is time for all of us to raise fresh greenery,” says Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited Chairman-cum-Managing Director P. Madhusudan.