Public hearing on Visakhapatnam’s CZMP on September 2

The mandatory public hearing on the revised Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Visakhapatnam district has been scheduled for September 2, clearing a key procedural hurdle for its submission to the Centre for final approval, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said in the Assembly on Thursday on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan.

Mr. Manohar urged all public representatives to educate the public and encourage participation in the hearing for the development of the region, on the occasion.

Replying to a starred question raised by Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, MLA, Mr. Manohar said the revised CZMP for Visakhapatnam could be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) after completion of the mandatory public hearing. The hearing had earlier been postponed twice.

The Minister said Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances for public amenities, tourism infrastructure, coastal protection works and other activities were granted by the MoEF&CC based on recommendations of the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority. Project proponents were required to submit proposals through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal, following which the APCZMA appraised them under the applicable CRZ regulations.

He said the Centre had notified the CRZ Notification, 2019, and the Coastal Zone Management Plans were being revised accordingly by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).

The State government had submitted revised CZMPs for 12 coastal districts to the MoEF&CC Technical Scrutiny Committee. Following detailed deliberations on August 3, 2026, the committee recommended the revised plans for the 12 districts to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) for final approval.

However, Visakhapatnam district remained pending due to the mandatory public hearing. The government has also sought consideration of reclassifying the coastal stretch from the Madhurawada boundary to Bheemunipatnam from CRZ-III to CRZ-II.

The proposal was submitted to the NCSCM and MoEF&CC, citing the need to facilitate infrastructure development, tourism and economic growth in the area.

The Technical Scrutiny Committee directed submission of all relevant documents to the NCSCM for review and consideration of the proposed reclassification. The Minister said the government would proceed with the required processes after completion of the public hearing.