VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam Port Trust chairman MT Krishna Babu asked the committee on coastal erosion to submit an interim action plan by June 30, to arrest the beach erosion in the city limits.
While chairing the committee meeting, Krishna Babu said that there was an immediate need to address the beach erosion in two phases. To take up immediate measures, a temporary action plan has to be submitted by June 30 and a long-term and integrated action plan can be submitted by July 15.
The people of Visakhapatnam and intellectuals have expressed deep anguish on the beach erosion and sought to address the issue on a priority basis to arrest the coastal erosion.
Addressing the meeting, collector N Yuvaraj said that the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) team from Chennai was studying various issues to arrest beach erosion.
GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar requested the experts of various fields to complete their studies and survey at the earliest as it was a raging issue in the city. As the beach was eroding in recent times, Vizagites were not happy and demanded concrete measures to arrest the erosion. The commissioner has also requested the experts to give estimated expenditure details in the reports.
During the meeting, NIOT scientist, Chennai, Sivakolundu, gave a presentation on their studies. The NIOT is preparing a design and detailed project report on the coastal erosion in Visakhapatnam, Sivakolundu said.
NIOT regional scientist VSN Murthy, VPT chief engineer MK Mehra, VUDA additional vice-chairman K Ramesh, VPT SE MR Rajanikanth and engineering officials of various departments were present.
