Hitch rectified, DCI resumes beach nourishment

Problem with regard to pipeline connectivity caused delay

DCI dredger pumping sand-water as part of beach nourishment, in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

After overcoming technical problems, Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) launched beach nourishment on Tuesday.

DCI, which has bagged three-year contract from Visakhapatnam Port Trust, had deployed DCI DR XX on January 27 to pick up sand and fill the eroded beaches. It also put up a banner near INS Kursura Museum and the deployment of the majestic dredger close to the shore had attracted a large of onlookers. The sight of the dredger close to the beach road also turned into a most sought-after spot for taking selfies by the youngsters.

However, the nourishment could not start as per schedule due to technical snag. Sources told

The Hindu that problem with regard to pipeline connectivity was the cause of the delay.

A DCI official said though they had been awarded the mandate to complete the task in 42 to 45 days, they would finish it ahead of schedule. In all, the dredger is supposed to collect and dump five lakh cubic metres of sand. The contract value for this year is ₹16 crore.

PVT Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu said as part of their CSR they were spending huge amounts to undertake beach nourishment. On the recommendation of the Deltares, which was engaged to study the severe cases of beach erosion in the city, the rainbow method was disbanded to nourish the beaches. Experts from National Institute of Oceanography feel that the changing beach morphology due to real estate boom on the beach road is leading to erosion at various places.

NIO consultant V.S.N. Murthy said beach nourishment by VPT was showing good results.