JanaSena Warns CRZ Shift Threatens Coastal Ecology
JanaSena Party (JSP) senior leader and Jal Biradari national convenor, Bolisetty Satyanarayana, has strongly opposed the government’s proposal to reclassify Visakhapatnam Beach Road from Coastal Regulation Zone-3 (CRZ-3) to CRZ-2, calling it “a recipe for ecological disaster.”
He warned that the proposed change would weaken CRZ safeguards and pave the way for large corporate hotel projects, threatening the livelihoods of local fishermen and tribal communities who depend on the coastal ecosystem for survival.
“While the Deputy Chief Minister implements initiatives like the ‘Great Green Wall’ to combat climate change, others are advancing proposals that risk permanent environmental harm in exchange for short-term economic gains,” Satyanarayana said, highlighting a contradiction in the government’s approach.
He pointed out that the coastline is already heavily polluted due to alleged negligence by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB). “Allowing large structures closer to the shore could lead to irreversible damage to fragile ecosystems, including sand dunes and vegetation that act as natural protective barriers,” he said.
Local fishermen echoed Satyanarayana’s concerns. Ramesh, a fisherman from Rushikonda, said, “We have seen the sea getting dirtier every year, and our catches are declining. If big hotels and resorts come closer to the shore, we may lose our fishing grounds entirely.” Another fisherman, Suresh, added, “Our families have depended on this coast for generations. Development should not come at the cost of our livelihood.”
Satyanarayana urged the government to focus on eco-tourism initiatives that preserve the natural environment rather than promote concrete-heavy developments. “Protecting sand dunes and coastal vegetation is essential to ensure a safe and sustainable city for future generations,” he said.
He warned that any development achieved at the expense of nature would ultimately lead to destruction and called on the government to withdraw the CRZ reclassification proposal immediately, engaging with local communities to ensure balanced and sustainable development.