VISAKHAPATNAM: The Vizag Development Council (VDC) has proposed a unique project to face the challenges from eco-disorders in and around the city. Since industrialisation is expected to be promoted, in a swift move, the VDC has requested Lok Sabha member K Haribabu to take up a green project to increase biodiversity, oxygenation, protect environment, ensure a green cover and make Visakhapatnam a landmark for high potential tourism.
Against this backdrop, Haribabu visited the IT Park at Rushikonda and interacted with IT professionals Tuesday. VDC vice-chairman O Naresh Kumar explained to him about the pollution threat to the city and expressed his worry about the deteriorating biodiversity in and around the city. He also asked the MP to select hillocks where one lakh fruit and flower saplings could be planted.
The VDC proposed the plantation of a variety of fruit saplings to feed birds and small animals throughout the year. The varieties include gooseberry (big and small), chikku, black berry, custard apple, bullock’s heart, guava, orange, jujube, small mango and cashew. The VDC also proposed planting trees with beautiful flowers like cassia fistula, gulmohar, butea monosperma, lagerstroemia and saraca indica to present a spectacular view for tourists.
The VDC members requested the MP to ask the collector to allot 100 MGNREGS workers to take up the plantation, with a minimum maintenance of one year. They also asked him to release MPLad funds and ask the industries to support the VDC in this regard. The VDC assured the MP that they would donate 25,000 fruit-bearing trees for environment enrichment in the project.