The coastline from Nakapalli to Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam district is susceptible to beach erosion and therefore the Visakhapatnam port is taking up beach nourishment every year, as it is a scientifically proven method, according to Visakhapatnam port chairman M.T. Krishna Babu.

He told the media here on Friday that that this year the beach nourishment had already begun on February 6 and it would continue till March first week. “We estimate to pump around 3 lakh cubic metres of sand,” he said.

Last year, the VPT had floated a global tender for beach nourishment for a period of three years and the Dredging Corporation of India had bagged it for Rs 40 crores. In the previous year around 1.05 lakh cubic metre of sand was pumped at a cost of Rs 11.09 crores and this year the cost may go up to Rs 18.37 crores.

According to him, a survey was conducted along the 974-km coastline of Andhra Pradesh and 210 km was identified as danger zones. “In Visakhapatnam there are a number of structures in the sea and that is increasing the risk of erosion. The Kurusura (Submarine) Museum is a vulnerable spot and this year we will be pumping the sand near the submarine museum as recommended by NIOT,” he said.

Referring to the Netherlands-based institute Deltares, an independent institute specialising in research in water and sub-surface, he said the firm had been given the contract to prepare a DPR on methods to arrest beach erosion. “The total project cost is around Rs 150 crores and Deltares will give us the engineering design, tender estimates and technical support. The report should be ready by January 2019,” said he said.

On the performance of VPT, he said the port would handle 64 million tonnes of cargo by the end of the financial year compared to 61 million tonnes in the previous year.

He said the trade with Nepal is gradually increasing and the port has requested the Nepal Government to set up a consulate office in the city.

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