The Hindu Business Line : `Concerted efforts needed to preserve mangroves'

LARGE-SCALE DESTRUCTION: Vast stretches of mangrove plantations have been cleared for industrialisation near Naval Dockyard area in Visakhapatnam. Mangroves have the capacity to absorb huge amounts of toxic pollutants and are natural shock absorbers protecting the coasts from natural disasters such as cyclones. — C. V. Subrahmanyam

Visakhapatnam May 17 Industrialisation and haphazard growth have resulted in the large-scale destruction of mangroves in Visakhapatnam and at least now concerted efforts should be made to conserve the remaining mangroves, the AP Natural History Society has appealed to the authorities and the public.

At a meeting here on Thursday to sensitise the public on the issue, Prof. N.A Varaprasad Reddy, the honorary secretary of the society, and Dr M. Prasanth Teja and Dr M. Venkaiah, the joint secretaries, said the complete disregard of the mangroves "is shown by the fact that Rain Calcining has been allowed to set up its unit right in the mangrove zone. Besides, the port and other port-based industries have contributed to the ruin of mangroves and wetlands."

regeneration effort

Prof. Prasada Reddy said the port, airport and 39 industries emitting toxic substances were responsible for the ecological degradation. He pleaded for mangrove replantation, or regeneration programmes, and steps to conserve the remaining mangroves. The importance of mangroves to the coastal ecological system could not be overemphasised, he added.

Prof. P.S Rajasekhara Reddy, of the Environmental Sciences Department of Andhra University, and several others spoke in the same tenor and wanted immediate steps to conserve the mangroves. They wanted the industries and public sector units as well as private ones in Vizag to be more responsible and take an eco-friendly approach. The industry should contribute to the mangrove regeneration efforts, they pleaded.

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