The nourishment of the stretch of beach near Kursura Museum here is likely to be completed in 15 days, according to M.T Krishna Babu, the Chairman of Visakhapatnam port.
He told reporters here on Thursday that the nourishment was being taken up through a pipeline from the dredger. The work began 10 days ago and 1 lakh cubic metres of sand taken from the port sand trap had been pumped in and in the next 15 days it would pump another 1.5 lakh cubic metres of sand.
Nourishment was being taken up in December itself in view of the fact that International Fleet Review of the Indian Navy is scheduled to be conducted off the coast in February 2016 and the beach would be the main viewing gallery for the VIPs and other visitors and invitees.
The port has been undertaking beach nourishment every year. Since 2009 beach erosion has been on the rise, especially near Ramakrishna Beach, after the establishment of Gangavaram Port. Further, accretion of sand in the port’s sand trap had come down from 4 lakh cubic metres to 2.5 lakh cubic metres, he said.
He said, "Beach erosion at one place and sand accretion at another place is a common phenomenon and there is no permanent solution to the problem. Beach nourishment has to be taken up on a regular basis and the VPT is committed to its role in protecting the city’s beaches."
He said beach nourishment was being taken up at a cost of Rs 13 crore and would be completed by end of this month.