VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) draft master plan-2041 has proposed a 10-point strategy to protect the critical environment in the VMRDA region.
Close to 20% of the VMRDA area (or 1,230 square kilometres) is a natural and sensitive area, which requires protection and integration into the human landscape to retain its environmental significance.
The VMRDA area covers a coastal length of 250 km. At present, the total land use covered by recreation, forest and hills constitutes a total green coverage of 12% of VMRDA area. If the plantation around lakes and rivers is considered, this becomes a green cover of 17%, which is much lower than the state and national average. However, this green cover still acts as the backbone for the ecological footprint of the region.
Other natural features include coastal sandy areas, mangrove forests, rivers, water bodies and open spaces. Different environmental features also add to the sensitivity of the region towards large-scale developments.
As per the draft master plan-2041 framework for environmental management of key sensitive areas, the entire VMRDA is broadly classified into six key designations for its environmental sustainability, protection and conservation.
The areas are divided based on characteristics, physiography and natural resources. Each zone will have its own development and protection policy, and maintaining it will facilitate a better environment and healthy surroundings in the VMRDA.
The draft master plan also highlights dwindling water resources. Apart from the continuous drought and deficit rainfall prevailing in the last few years, developments and habitations in the catchment area have blocked inflows into water bodies.
Meanwhile, coastal areas in the region are subject to intense development pressures by way of tourism, marine fishing activity and industrial infrastructure. In a bid to implement the conservation and protection strategy, the master plan does not propose intensive land uses along the coast other than such permitted under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 and subsequent amendments. No other activity, not ancillary to the fishing activity or any conservation activity, has been proposed as part of the coastal areas.
The draft master plan also recommends protecting all lakes, lakefronts and all critical channels of lakes through mandatory open and green buffers.
