Public hearing on Visakhapatnam CZMP set for Sept 2
The government announced a mandatory public hearing for Visakhapatnam district's revised Coastal Zone Management Plan on September 2, a prerequisite before its submission to the Centre for final approval. The hearing follows two prior postponements and is part of a broader process to align CZMPs wit
Key takeaways
- A mandatory public hearing on Visakhapatnam's CZMP is set for September 2, 2026.
- The hearing is required before the CZMP can be submitted to the MoEF&CC for final approval.
- Crucial steps include PARIVESH submissions and APCZMA recommendations under CRZ norms.
What Happened
Public officials disclosed that the revised Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Visakhapatnam district will undergo a mandatory public hearing on September 2. This step is a prerequisite for submitting the CZMP to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for final approval. The announcement was made in the state Assembly by Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan. The hearing had previously been postponed twice.
Officials indicated that CRZ clearances for activities such as public amenities, tourism infrastructure, and coastal protection works are granted by MoEF&CC based on recommendations from the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA). Proposals are submitted via the PARIVESH 2.0 portal and appraised by the APCZMA under applicable CRZ regulations. The Centre has notified the CRZ Notification, 2019, and CZMP revisions are being carried out by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
In a broader context, the State has submitted revised CZMPs for 12 coastal districts to the MoEF&CC Technical Scrutiny Committee. After deliberations on August 3, 2026, the committee recommended the revised plans for these districts to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) for final approval. Visakhapatnam district remains pending due to the requirement of a public hearing. There is also a proposal to reclassify the coastal stretch from Madhurawada to Bheemunipatnam from CRZ-III to CRZ-II, which has been submitted to NCSCM and MoEF&CC for consideration to support infrastructure, tourism, and economic growth in the area. The Technical Scrutiny Committee has directed the submission of all pertinent documents to NCSCM for review. Officials said the government will proceed with the necessary steps after the public hearing.
Why It Matters
The hearing marks a procedural milestone essential for moving Visakhapatnam’s CZMP toward Centre-level approval, a step that could influence permissible activities along the coast and related development plans. The process reflects the alignment of state-level CZMP revisions with national CRZ rules, potentially affecting tourism, infrastructure, and coastal protection projects. The possibility of reclassifying a coastal segment from CRZ-III to CRZ-II could widen developmental options if approved by the central authorities.
Background
CRZ notifications create a framework for how coastlines may be developed, with the 2019 CRZ Notification guiding revisions to CZMPs. The APCZMA and NCSCM manage state and national reviews of proposed coastal plans, while MoEF&CC provides final clearances for approved activities. The PARIVESH 2.0 portal is used to submit proposals, which are then appraised under CRZ regulations. Prior to Visakhapatnam, the state had submitted CZMP revisions for 12 districts, which underwent technical scrutiny and were forwarded to NCZMA for final endorsement.
Key Facts
- The mandatory public hearing for Visakhapatnam’s CZMP is scheduled for September 2.
- The hearing is a precondition for submitting the CZMP to the MoEF&CC for final approval.
- The announcement was made by Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar in the Assembly on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister.
- Hearing postponements for Visakhapatnam had occurred earlier, twice.
- CRZ clearances are granted by MoEF&CC based on APCZMA recommendations.
- Proposals are submitted through PARIVESH 2.0 and appraised by APCZMA under CRZ rules.
- The Centre notified CRZ 2019; NCSCM is revising CZMPs accordingly.
- Revisions for 12 coastal districts were sent to MoEF&CC Technical Scrutiny Committee; August 3, 2026 deliberations led to a recommendation to NCZMA for final approval.
- Visakhapatnam remains pending due to the mandatory public hearing requirement.
- A proposal seeks CRZ-III to CRZ-II reclassification for the stretch from Madhurawada to Bheemunipatnam, to aid infrastructure and tourism development.
- Documents related to this reclassification were requested by NCSCM for review.
- The government stated it would proceed with required steps after the hearing.
What Happens Next
Once the public hearing is conducted, the CZMP for Visakhapatnam can be submitted to MoEF&CC for final scrutiny and potential clearance. If central approvals are received, the plan could advance toward implementation considerations aligned with CRZ regulations and the proposed reclassification study.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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