VISAKHAPATNAM: Tourists coming to Rushikonda, one of the busiest beaches in Visakhapatnam, this tourism season are disappointed with the coastal stretch badly affected due to the beach erosion. The police officials say that since a month the number of tourists coming and relaxing in the beach has literally come down and this is for the first time in many decades.
Generally tourist season in Visakhapatnam region starts from October-end. But this year Dasara and Diwali falling in October itself, tourists started flocking the beach early. The marine police officials and community guards say that entering even five to eight feet into the sea seems to be dangerous at present. The shops near the beach are also seen on the verge of collapse due to the beach erosion.
“In the mornings the waters lash the Police outpost. We are restricting people from entering the sea at certain places because of the high tides. In some areas near the under construction beach shacks are expected to be safe,” said B Srinivasa Rao, a Marine police constable at Rushikonda.
The community guards also say that people thronging the beach have decreased now than in the previous years. The Rushikonda Beach has started eroding last year and this year in July, most part of the beach vanished. Though temporary measures like placing boulders has been taken up, the officials are yet to take any permanent measures. On the issue, HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and district collector Pravin Kumar during a meeting on Saturday, said that the issue was being taken up by consulting various authorities and a solution would be hammered out soon.