The Hindu Business Line : Visakha Forum wants beach road widening project reviewed

APPREHENDING possible violations of the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) stipulations and the likely adverse impact on the livelihood of local fishermen, the Forum for Better Visakha has urged the State Government to review its decision to go ahead with the Visakha-Bheemli beach road widening project for tourism promotion.

The co-ordinator of the Forum, Mr E.A.S. Sarma, and representatives of several NGOs such as Samata, Ankita Welfare Association and Space said in a press release that public hearings should be conducted in all the fishermen villages along the road and all sections of people should be involved before arriving at a decision.

"We, as concerned citizens of Visakhapatnam want to know whether the specific and general conditions outlined in the clearance letter given by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests are being complied with in letter and spirit," they said.

The clearance letter was issued by the Ministry on March 4, and the conditions in it were meant for safeguarding the interests of fishermen along the coast and to protect the habitat, they said.

The Forum and other organisations said a no-objection certificate should be obtained before taking up any work on the project.

In another statement, the Visakha District Traditional Fishermen Federation opposed the issue of a notification by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority for widening the Vizag-Bheemli road between the sixth km milestone and the ninth km milestone "in violation of the clearance given by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests."

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