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Visakhapatnam Battles Coastal Erosion with ₹176 Crore Project
13 Jun
Summary
- A ₹176 crore project aims to mitigate coastal erosion in Visakhapatnam.
- The project will use retaining walls, deflecting walls, and bio-shields.
- Environmental and social impact assessments are required for CRZ clearance.
Visakhapatnam is embarking on a crucial ₹176 crore project to combat persistent coastal erosion along its metropolitan region. This initiative, titled "Enhancing Coastal Resilience along the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region," has received approval for works valued at this amount, with 90% of the funding provided by the Union government and the remaining 10% by the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority.
The project proposes a blend of structural interventions, including retaining and deflecting walls at key locations like Gokul Park and Bheemunipatnam, alongside 22 kilometers of bio-shields to protect vulnerable coastal areas. These measures are designed to address erosion that has been a problem for over two decades.
Before proceeding, the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) must complete Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) studies. These assessments are mandatory for obtaining final Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances from both the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, ensuring compliance with national CRZ notifications.
