VISAKHAPATNAM: If plans of AP government materialise, Visakhapatnam beach will look like Maldives, with planting of beach cabbage (Scaevola Taccada) and other plants along the beach.
These plants grow even in sandy soil and salty water conditions. A patch of beach cabbage saplings is thriving after being planted in July 2020 by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) with support from private partners on the beach opposite Victory at Sea along RK Beach road.
“The plants have grown well. Their size is almost two to three feet. We will start covering the RK Beach stretch with these plants from June this year,” a GVMC functionary told Deccan Chronicle.
The officer said Taccada plants have a therapeutic effect on mind and body of visitors relaxing on the sand.
In fact, GVMC had in March 2014 mulled a similar proposal for growing plants to beautify RK Beach. According to experts in botany and marine forests, plants like Pisonia Alba, a native of beach forests in Andaman Islands, Conocarpus, found in Dubai, and Agapanthus are suitable for Vizag beach.
“Alba grows well in all soil conditions. But sandy soil is best, as Alba roots easily in sand,” a marine forests expert pointed out.
