AP centre of NIO to undertake VSP's EIA study

Visakhapatnam, Feb (UNI) The city-based National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Regional Center has been entrusted with the job of Marine Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant's (VSP) Rs 8,700-crore expansion project which will take its annual steel production from the existing 3.5 to 6.8 million tonne (MT).

The assignment comprises study of marine outfall between Appikonda and Gangavaram beach, for the proposed expansion. The NIO Regional Centre was gearing up to conduct Rapid Marine Environment Impact Assessment (RMEIA) programme, NIO Director KSR Murthy said.

Speaking to UNI here, Mr Murthy said the study was mandatory as the VSP was the only shore-based steel plant in the country. It was essential before the actual work on the expansion of the plant began as per the norms laid by the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests.

NIO (Chennai Regional Center) was also in the race for getting the job and also approached the steel plant for the purpose. Earlier the work was to be given on nomination basis to the NIO's regional centre in Vizag, which had conducted the EIA for the plant at the time of its inception.

However, later it was decided to award the job through quotation.

As per the assignment, NIO will find out a suitable discharge point for the industrial waste deep into the Bay.

Mr Murthy said it would take a minimum three months for the completion of the work. As part of the study, the NIO would observe and record the flow and seabed characteristics, apart from identifying the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) points between Appikonda and Gangavaram.

UNI RS GM 1404