Visakhapatnam: The continuing logjam over the initiation of permanent measures has been keeping the beach erosion alive. In the run-up to the International Fleet Review, the Visakhapatnam Port Trust had taken up temporary ‘beach nourishment’ works, in collaboration with the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), with about Rs 13 crore, dilating the beach area back to normal.
But the length of the beach area has been on the declining side again. In some parts of the RK beach area, the difference in the length of the beach area is quite visible compared to January, which could be a telltale sign of further erosion in the coming days.
The high tides are already crashing against the boulders laid near the Naval Coastal Battery area, which could extend further. After Cyclone Hudhud, the World Bank had approved a loan to restore the shore area as well to beautify the RK Beach area but the contrary suggestions by two different nodal agencies made the officials bewildered regarding future course of action and brought the plans of beach restoration works to ground zero.
The state government had first appointed the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) as a nodal agency to study the erosion issue and suggest both short-and long-term measures. Besides coming up with some temporary measures, the NIOT suggested construction of an underwater artificial reef with tetrapod blocks that act as an energy dissipater as a long-term measures.
But, the state government later hand-picked the 'Deltares Institute' of Netherlands – a consultant firm with proven expertise in preparing designs of coastal defence systems - to assess the report of remedial measures prepared by the NIOT.
Based on historical data and simple shoreline modelling, Deltares suggested ‘restoration of old sediment budget of the coastal system’ as the only way to arrest beach erosion in Visakhapatnam.
When contacted, a GVMC official informed that they would take up beach beautification and shore restoration works under the Smart City initiatives. “There are plans to develop the RK Beach on the lines of the Cannes, French Riveiera, including providing a space for the pedestrians/cycling among others. The World Bank would fund the project,” he added.
