Paradip, March 23: Authorities have proposed to plant 50,000 trees at the Paradip Port township in Odisha to combat environmental pollution.

During a visit to the area earlier this year, a house committee of the state’s Assembly had expressed concern over air and water pollution at the township.

“As part of comprehensive environment management plan in and around the fast-expanding port town, plans are afoot to undertake a massive plantation programme. The industrial houses operating around the township would bear the cost of the plantation drive,” said divisional forest officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest officer Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

The forest department and municipality authorities held a discussion with industrial houses recently in Paradip for creation of green corridors around the port town. The corporate house accorded consent to the programme.

Paradip municipality executive officer Sharada Prasad Panda said: “The plantation drive would cover the port area and its outskirts. Seaside areas in Sandhakuda and Biju Maidan, Atharabanki and the stretch from the CISF complex to the coast guard headquarters office would also come under it.”

In the first phase, 50,000 trees will be planted,Mahapatra said.