VISAKHAPATNAM: After five months of relentless efforts, Essar Steel, one of the leading steel-makers in India, restored its 30-mw captive power plant located on the premises of its pellet plant facility in the city Wednesday. The power and the pellet plants were badly damaged by cyclone Hudhud on October 12 last year. The plant is being operated at full capacity and has begun supplying power to the 8-million tonne per annum pellet plant.
However, the noteworthy aspect is how Essar Steel has also restored 52 acres of green belt that was damaged by the cyclone on the plant premises. Specialists from Bengaluru were consulted for ensuring maximum survival rate of the damaged greenery and to promote fast growth of foliage. The timely measures ensured that about 83 per cent of the trees survived.
In addition, over 4,500 plants of various species were planted in place of dead trees. About 1,000 flowering shrubs were planted at various locations in the plant. The green belt was thus fully recreated.
During the cyclone, when strong gales battered the city, the captive power plant equipment, including Electro static precipitator, and belt conveyor were severely damaged. Subsequently, the Essar team channelised its resources into reconstructing the damaged units. Involving over 400 MT of structural construction and equipment installation, with over 100 dedicated workmen, Essar team brought the plant back to operation in a short span of five months, the management announced in an official release.