Andhra Pradesh: Pawan Kalyan Initiates Move to Save Uppada Coast from Sea Erosion

Kakinada: The Uppada coast, which is offering livelihood for thousands of people, has also come as a curse to the people of the villages near the coast, particularly eight villages.

According to the Land and Survey Records department, nearly 1360 acres of land was submerged in the sea in recent decades.

In 1948, the government issued a notification for a survey of Uppada’s coastal villages and it was completed in 1956. In the survey, 84 acres of land was reported submerged in the sea over a span of eight years.

However, last year, the department conducted a survey and reported that 1360 acres of land has been washed away in the sea.

According to the villagers of Uppada, two temples -- Vaishnavalayam and Shivalayam -- a guest house and a number of houses have been washed away in the sea in the last 20 years.

According to officials, every year, some extent of land is being merged in the sea. In the 2004-09 period, when MM Pallam Raju was the Union minister, a Geotube wall was erected to protect the coast.

It has helped to some extent. But, due to lack of maintenance and negligence of the authorities, the wall was damaged.

Taking a serious note of the issue, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan invited experts from the Union ministry of earth sciences to inspect the coast and prepare a report to protect the coast, as well as the villages, from sea erosion.

On Wednesday, the experts along with Maritime Board officials visited the coast and told Pawan Kalyan that they would come up with a report.

Pawa Kalyan said he would make efforts to get funds from the Union Government and complete the project within 18 months. This promise instilled confidence among the people of Uppada coast in U Kothapalli mandal of Kakinada district. Experts would study as to why only the uppada coast is met with sea erosion.