Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) will take up a comprehensive study on the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) with the help of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
VUDA Vice-Chairman Kona Sasidhar convened a meeting with the scientists of NIO to entrust a holistic study on CRZ from Kakinada to Srikakulam with which VUDA deals as a part of the planning and development responsibilities.
Keeping the long coastline in the newly-added jurisdiction of VUDA and the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) in view, a thorough study on CRZ was imperative, the Vice-Chairman said. Since the NIO is the apex government agency with sufficient manpower and technical capability, the job of CRZ study was being entrusted to it, he added.
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The study will focus mainly on demarcation of high-tide levels (HTL) and low-tide levels (LTL), existence of mangroves along the coast, creeks, eco-sensitive areas, and other relevant aspects. The study will also suggest measures for protecting the coast and steps to mitigate huge loss due to natural calamities such as tsunami, Mr. Sasidhar said. The outcome of the study would also help identify development and non-development zones along the coast.
The study involves an expenditure of about Rs.3 crore and the NIO will start work soon after obtaining the necessary approvals from its headquarters.
The Vice-Chairman said that the CRZ mappings would be incorporated with the revenue maps for demarcating the limits.
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NIO scientists K. Mohan Rao and B. Prabhakar Rao, VUDA Chief Urban Planner R.J. Vidyullatha, PCPIR consultant S.B. Bhuyan, D Satish Damodar, and others attended the meeting.