Govt committed to coastal development: Min

Municipal and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana has said that the government is dedicated to coastal development and environmental protection throughout the State. The School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada, in association with the Indian Institute of Town Planners, organised a two-day national conference on Thursday, focusing on the theme “Protection of Coastal Environment through Use of Technology and Traditional Knowledge.”
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural programme, Minister Narayana outlined the measures being taken by the government for coastal development and environmental protection, as well as the challenges faced. He praised the organisation of such a conference as a means to address these challenges. He noted that Andhra Pradesh boasts the longest coastline in the country, stretching 972 km, making the topics discussed in this conference particularly relevant.
The minister highlighted that the coastal region encompasses 13 districts and major cities like Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Srikakulam, which collectively have a population of 34.19 million. Significant projects, such as the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Petroleum and Petrochemicals Investment Region, are currently underway in these cities.
He mentioned that the ports of Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam, and Krishnapatnam have also seen substantial development. The government is committed to taking the initiative to further develop the coastal areas.