Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Monday, Dec 30, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Monday, Dec 30, 2002 |
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Industry & Economy
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Environment Awareness drive on coastal degradation in AP Our Bureau
RAJAHMUNDRY, Dec. 29 THE coastal environment in Andhra Pradesh is being thoughtlessly exploited and subjected to degradation and to sensitise the public on the issue, environmental activists would tour the coast from Icchapuram in Srikakulam district to Tada in Nellore district during January and February, Dr T. Patanjali Sastry, president of the Centre for Environment here, has said. In a statement issued here, Dr Sastry said the State Government was going ahead with its plans to industrialise the coastal belt (975 km in the State) without taking steps to prevent pollution or to protect the fragile coastal zone. As a consequence, already thousands of traditional fishermen had lost their livelihood and the bio-diversity of the zone was under grave threat. In particular, the setting up of a pharma city at Parawada near Visakhapatnam would pollute the seawaters as poisonous effluents would be let out into the city. Similarly, he said, the State Government was unmindful of the ecological ramifications of its proposed projects at Kakinada town, especially the proposed LNG terminal. Initially, he said, the terminal was proposed to be set up on the Hope Island, a fragile strip protecting the town from cyclones, but fortunately the proposal was given up, as the Union Ministry of Environment did not clear it. Coringa mangroves near Kakinada were also perishing due to indiscriminate exploitation and aquaculture was also taking its toll, he said. Dr Sastry said that Kolleru and Pulicat lakes on the coast should be protected and developed as bird sanctuaries and they should not sacrificed for aquaculture. He said a team of environmentalists would tour the coastal areas under the auspices of Samvrithi from January 10 to January 20 and again from February 8 to February 15 to interact and educate the locals on these vital issues.
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