Low turnout at Visakhapatnam CZMP hearing raises public awareness and livelihood concerns

Limited public presence at consultation

VISAKHAPATNAM: Fewer than 100 people attended a public consultation on the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Visakhapatnam district on Wednesday, despite the area having a coastline of about 130 km and a population of roughly 20 lakh. The meeting, convened at the VMRDA Children’s Arena, was organised by the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA) and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) as part of the statutory process under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019.

Procedure and submissions

Officials said the draft CZMP for the State’s coastline was prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, an agency authorised by the Centre. Visakhapatnam District Collector M Abhishikth Kishore noted that around 50 written representations had already been submitted in advance of the hearing. He said objections and suggestions received during the consultation would be recorded in both written and video formats and forwarded to the concerned state-level authority for examination before the draft is sent to the national authority for review and approval.

What was explained at the hearing

At the meeting, officials outlined the four CRZ categories — CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3 and CRZ-4 — and highlighted changes introduced under the 2019 notification in comparison with the 2011 framework. Participants were then invited to place objections and suggestions on the draft maps presented by the organisers.

Local concerns and calls for better outreach

The limited turnout prompted environmentalists and experts to question the effectiveness of public outreach. An expert cited in the consultation, Sohan Hattangadi, observed that the notification and the maps had been made available only in English, which may have hindered wider public understanding.

"People often realise the implications of coastal regulations only when their own lands or livelihoods are restricted. There is a need for greater public awareness and a more responsible effort to understand the rules governing the fragile surroundings in which they live," the expert said.

Fishing communities used the forum to voice concerns about untreated waste entering the sea and the potential impact of coastal development on their livelihoods. Teddu Shankar, representing Peda Jalaripeta, warned that any relaxations permitted under the CRZ-2019 could increase pressure on the coast and on fishing communities, stressing the need for cleaner waters and improved conditions for fishermen.

Representatives of development interests also addressed the draft plan. Pavan Karteek, president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Andhra Pradesh, supported proposed changes along the Madhurawada-Bheemili corridor, citing growing infrastructure needs. Landowners raised concerns about restrictions that would apply in CRZ-III and designated No Development Zone areas.

Implications and next steps

Under the CRZ Notification, the public consultation is a statutory step in finalising the district-level CZMP. Following the hearing, the State government will examine all representations before forwarding the draft plan and recorded objections to the national-level authority for final review and approval. The CRZ-2019 framework will take effect for the district only after that prescribed approval process is complete.

• Key turnout figures and submissions were recorded and will form part of the formal record for the CZMP process.
• Stakeholders including fishing communities, landowners and hospitality representatives presented differing priorities—livelihood protection, development needs and regulatory clarity.
• Questions were raised about language accessibility and the reach of awareness campaigns for such an important coastal regulation process.

Environmental advocates said broader, multilingual outreach and clearer presentation of the maps and regulatory implications are necessary to ensure meaningful participation by communities that depend on the coast. Officials stressed that the formal process will continue and that all submissions will be considered as the draft moves towards national review.