With severe beach erosion shrinking the shoreline and raising public concern, Visakhapatnam Port Turst has decided to undertake beach nourishment near Kursura Submarine Museum next month.
The port will take a final decision on awarding the contract after the last date for submission of tenders expires on February 13. Since early 1970s, the port has been doing nourishment of the beach every year.
Mr. Krishna Babu said this year’s beach nourishment would involve around Rs.9 crore by pumping an estimated 2.5 lakh cubic metres from the Sand Trap created between the Dolphin’s Nose and Breakwater. “If we get more sand that will also be used for nourishment,” he said.
Gangavaram Port has also been told to take up nourishment on the Yarada side. Following Hudhud and formation of multiple systems in the Bay of Bengal and massive rise in constructions on the beachfront, the incidence of coastal erosion on Visakhapatnam-Bheemunipatnam beach road is on the rise.
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of National Institute of Oceanography has estimated loss of sand from the Visakhapatnam coast post-Hudhud and other factors at around five lakh tonnes. A committee set up by the Government is studying short-term and long-term measures to fight the threat caused by sea surge and erosion on the beachfront.