Green project hits roadblock

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Oct 2, 2012: After the delay by various PSUs in grounding the ambitious “Green Visak-ha” project, now objections raised by encroachers in various parts of the city has become a matter of co-ncern in the implementation of this prestigious project as envisaged by Chair-man of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Science and Technology and Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy.

In an attempt to check pollution in city which is surrounded by industries and PSUs, the project was taken up to plant 40 lakh saplings in the next five years with a target of eight lakh saplings each year.

Vuda is leading the project with its technical and supervisory support and AP Pollution Control Board and district administration are coordinating the project with the support of PSUs and industries.

Around 21 PSUs and industries were given target to plant saplings and post plantation care. While Coromandel and NTPC were almost up to the mark in planting saplings as per the target given, Visakhapatnam Port Trust and HPCL were lagging behind, which was found at a recent review of project in city.

“Initially it was some organisations not meeting the targets or not at all taking up the project that plagued the implementation of the project, now daily we get at least one objection being raised by encroachers on government land when that piece of land is visited by the staff to plant saplings. But we have instructed staff to go ahead with the work by keeping such objections aside,” said an officer monitoring the project on daily basis. Such objections are more witnessed in Gajuwaka and Autonagar.

The officer also said that these issues are being taken to the notice of district collector V. Seshadri regularly.

Sapling plantation is in full swing in Visalakshi-nagar, Hanumathawaka, industrial area, port area, Gajuwaka, Autonagar and many other places. Already three lakh saplings were planted out of target of eight lakh.

“We are hopeful that the remaining target will be achieved very soon. The concerned tahsildars are being approached by the staff if there are any problems locally,” Vuda’s divisional forest officer (DFO, B.V.A. Krishna Murthy told this correspondent.