Civic bodies neglecting beaches

Visakhapatnam: Government departments responsible for adopting measures to check coastal erosion, have been largely inactive.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority are primarily responsible for taking up coastal protection measures.

But there is no clarity on who is to take the initiative. Both the wings have been mute spectators. Aside from dumping boulders at the spots where erosion occurs, nothing has been done by either departments.

The GVMC had invited experts from IIT-Madras, Central Water and Power Research Station, National Institute of Oceanography, and Andhra University, to provide technical suggestions to ease pressure  from sea attrition. Experts from IIT-Madras and CWPRS visited the beaches and even submitted a report to the GVMC.

None of these plans have been implemented. Port activities were also found to be responsible for damages to the beach, but no significant action has been taken by the civic body to synchronise activities  in the area.

According to official sources, even coordination meetings have been discontinued. A scientist said that shortage of funds is a major reason for this neglect.