VISAKHAPATNAM: With corporates and NGOs going on a tree-planting spree in a bid to reclaim the green cover of the Hudhud-ravaged port city, the demand has pushed up the prices of saplings at Kadiam hamlet, known for nurseries. The prices of saplings have reported a cent per cent increase due to the spurt in demand.
As millions of trees are uprooted, industries, educational institutions and private establishments have lost their green cover. The CMR Group has brought one lakh saplings from Kadiam, located near Rajahmundry, and distributed them freely to the denizens. In all, there are over 300 medium and 15 large nurseries in Kadiam.
“What Visakhapatnam needs is fast growing and shade trees. In view of the high demand, some of the nurseries are holding back their stock hoping for a better price,” Srinivasa Rao, who runs a nursery, said.
“We have bought around one lakh saplings belonging to 30 varieties from the nurseries. We purchased saplings for `35 to `40 each, which does not include the transportation cost. Around 8,000 plants can be transported in one lorry. We have spent an average of `10,000 per lorry for transportation,” said a representative of the CMR Group.
The GITAM Uni alumni network, GANAM, is also planning to plant one lakh saplings in the city. They are launching a project named ‘Replant Vizag to Rebuild Vizag’. The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, NTPC, BHEL, Andhra and GITAM Universities, VUDA and GVMC plans to plant around 50 lakh saplings to replace the uprooted trees.