The recent partial collapse of the baby park's boundary wall and concrete floor at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam, following Cyclone Michaung, has once again sparked apprehension regarding the safety of man-made structures along the shoreline.

While the deposition and erosion of sand are natural processes influenced by seasonal changes, scientists warn that man-made constructions are exacerbating the issue.

Failure to address these concerns promptly could lead to severe consequences, according to experts.

Chief Scientist and Scientist of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), V.V.S.S. Sarma, emphasized the temporary nature of sand erosion, pointing out that man-made structures disrupt the delicate balance of deposition and erosion, especially during cyclones.

He suggested closely monitoring the affected areas, such as the baby park near RK Beach, before implementing remedial measures like beach nourishment.

A study on 'Coastal erosion – beach profiling' conducted between 2011 and 2015 by CSIR-NIO, Visakhapatnam, revealed significant changes on the waterfront. G.P.S. Murty, retired Chief Scientist and Scientist-in-Charge of NIO, recommended strategies such as beach nourishment, planting coconut and casuarina trees, and cultivating beach weeds to mitigate sand erosion.

He highlighted the successful nourishment of the beach stretch between RK Beach and YMCA Beach ahead of the International Fleet Review in 2016.

Further insights from a study on 'Erosional and depositional pattern along Visakhapatnam' by Kollu Sai Satya Mounika of the Department of Geology, Andhra University, between January and December 2019, stressed the impact of natural nourishment deprivation on the beach.

To counter this, she proposed constructing groynes at intervals to trap incoming sand and suggested pumping dredged sand to stabilize the beach against further erosion, especially in the Naval Coast Battery to Lawson’s Bay area. Addressing these concerns and implementing proactive measures is crucial to ensuring the long-term safety and stability of RK Beach and its surrounding structures.

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