Public opinion sought on Coastal Zone Management Plan

Visakhapatnam: Amidst protests, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) conducted a public hearing on the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) here on Tuesday.  While chairing the meeting, Collector Pravin Kumar said that after collecting the public voice a notification would be sent to the central government and he welcomed the people to register their arguments on the plan.

He informed that after the 2011 notification, with the National Green Tribunal directions, district level proposals have been sent and a Chennai based organisation has come forward to prepare the coastal plan. Already, the proposal Coastal Zone Management Plan uploaded in the website and after collecting the opinions from the people a report would be sent to the central government, he added.

Representative from National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai Sowdaryarajan explained about the Coastal Regulatory Zone rules and new proposals.  He said that the plan was divided into five categories identifying the various important locations including forest, salt farms, back waters and ecological sensitive areas.

Executive Engineer of APPCB Lakshmi Narayana said that 528 km long coastal belt spread in the Visakhapatnam district and after identifying the various zones, the plan was prepared. The GVMC and VMRDA also prepared their master plans according to the Coastal Zone Management Plan, he added.

Reacting on the plan, almost all the participants from the various organisations and political parties, strongly demanded a new plan and proposals. The leaders and other representatives including former Union Secretary EAS Sarma, left party leaders Lokanadham, D Paul, M Pydiraju, Vasupalli Srinivsa Rao, Janaki Rao, AP Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation President G Sambasiva Rao and several other intellectuals expressed their deep concern on the environmental issues and eco system on the coastal belt.

The speakers pointed out that there are already several industries polluting the blue water by releasing the industrial effluents directly. Due to the government policies and lack of stringent enforcement, the sea wealth is being grossly damaged and there is a negative impact on the rains. Commissioner, VMRDA Basanth Kumar and large number of people from the effected villages on the coastal region were present.