A large part of the State’s coastline is facing the threat of erosion and it could affect lives of more than 13 lakh people, if steps are not taken to address the issue, YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media after inspecting the breach developed on the beach road retaining wall here recently, Mr. Jaganmohan said that as many as 282 coastal village would bear the brunt, if the sea level rose by 0.6 m. “The State government has to deal with the issue seriously and initiate measures to stem the erosion in the long run. Short term measures like using boulders and debris to fill up the breaches will not do,” he said.
The YSRC chief also said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who had been visiting coastal countries like Singapore and Japan should ask the respective governments as to how they were handling coastal erosion in their countries.
Accusing the government of neglecting the Andhra University report on costal erosion, Mr. Jagan said it was high time the government roped in international experts to study the problem and draw a roadmap to prevent it. He promised to raise the issue in Assembly .
Mr Reddy, accompanied by party district president Gudivada Amarnath, left for Simhachalam temple to have a darshan and from there, he went to Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham. He participated in rituals being organised, marking the anniversary celebrations of the Peetham.
282 coastal villages will bear the brunt, if the sea level rises by 0.6 m. The govt. must initiate measures to stem the erosion in the long run
Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy,YSRC president