Public Hearing on Visakhapatnam's Coastal Zone Management Plan on September 2

The mandatory public hearing on the revised Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Visakhapatnam district will be held on September 2, according to an announcement in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar made the statement on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who holds the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development portfolio. The hearing is a procedural requirement before the plan can be submitted to the Centre for final approval.

The hearing was earlier postponed twice. Mr. Manohar urged public representatives to encourage public participation, saying it is important for regional development. He was responding to a starred question raised by MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas.

The Centre notified the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, and coastal zone management plans are being revised accordingly by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM). The Andhra Pradesh government submitted revised plans for 12 coastal districts to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's Technical Scrutiny Committee. After detailed deliberations held on August 3, the committee recommended the plans for the 12 districts to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) for final approval. Visakhapatnam's plan remained pending due to the mandatory public hearing requirement.

The Minister also said that CRZ clearances for public amenities, tourism infrastructure, coastal protection works and other activities are granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change based on recommendations from the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA). Project proponents are required to submit proposals through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal, following which the APCZMA appraises them under applicable CRZ regulations.

The government has proposed reclassifying the coastal stretch from the Madhurawada boundary to Bheemunipatnam from CRZ-III to CRZ-II. This proposal was submitted to the NCSCM and the Ministry, citing the need to facilitate infrastructure development, tourism and economic growth in the area. The Technical Scrutiny Committee directed the submission of all relevant documents to the NCSCM for review and consideration of the proposed reclassification. Mr. Manohar said the government will proceed with the required processes after the public hearing is completed.

The public hearing is a key step in the approval process for the CZMP, which governs land use and development activities along the coast. Its completion will enable the state government to submit the final plan for Visakhapatnam to the Centre, aligning it with the CRZ Notification, 2019, and ensuring sustainable coastal management while addressing developmental needs.