The State Government has identified the Vodarevu beach near Chirala as one of the tourist spots to be developed into a resort in the private sector. According to G. Baburao, architect and adviser to the Tourism Department, a beach resort at Vodarevu will come up at a cost of Rs. 40 lakhs under the "Build-operate-Transfer" scheme shortly.
Since Vodarevu, the most popular beach in Prakasam district, is 7 km from Chirala and receives over 1,000 visitors during week-ends and several thousands of pilgrims during festivals, it has good tourist potential, says the brochure, "A.P. Beckons for Business and Profits," published by the Government.
The Indian Tobacco Company and some other organisations have private guest houses and there is a seven suite `Chip-n-dale' resort as well. Private operators have constructed a resort 3 km south of Vodarevu beach.
The land extending inland from the beach is relatively flat with casuarina and coconut plantations, RITES, which earlier investigated and recommended Vodarevu for development of a minor port, observed. "Vodarevu derives some degree of protection during the monsoon due to its location in the Bay and is shielded by a natural curve," RITES said.
Though Vodarevu is endowed with all facilities, it has missed the bus whenever a project is sanctioned. The former MP, Chimata Sambu, is, however, optimistic that the present project will come up and says that private parties are very much interested in Vodarevu which has very good potential.
When he was an MP, Mr. Sambu got a Rs. 60-lakh tourist centre sanctioned for Vodarevu by the Central Government, but it could not take off as the State Government failed to sanction its matching grant due to a change of guard in the State in 1989.
Vodarevu was a flourishing port till the early 20th century, doing shipping trade with countries like Java and Sumatra. The dilapidated godowns were in existence till the 1970s. However, efforts to revive the port during the 1960s and 70s could not materialise. The local ILTD company also assured that it would route its exports through the proposed minor port at Vodarevu.
The then Fisheries Minister, Venegalla Satyanarayana Rao, in 1970 announced the revival of the port as Vodarevu was selected for deep-sea fishing. Roda Mistry, State Tourism Minister, and Sarojini Mahishi, Union Minister for Tourism, who visited Vodarevu, likened the beach to Kovalam and sanctioned a tourist resort at Vodarevu. All these proposals were shelved for obvious reasons.
In 1998 a minor port and a ship-breaking unit were sanctioned on the recommendation of RITES and allotted to a private party for execution. When the work started, the A.P. State Pollution Control Board directed stopping it following representations by the local leaders. Although the board has now given clearance, the prospects of reviving the project work look rather dim as the antagonists are still at work.
Now, all eyes are on the promotion of the tourist resort at Vodarevu proposed under "build-operate-transfer" scheme like the one coming up at Rishikonda in Visakhapatnam district at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs. Another beach resort at Kothapatnam in Prakasam district is coming up with an outlay of Rs. 40 lakhs.
Andhra Pradesh is rich in beaches, hills, wildlife and forests, forts, temples and Buddhist sites besides bird sanctuaries, to attract tourists to the State. The Andhra Pradesh vision 2020 document has identified tourism as a major thrust area for development, aiming to raise the annual international tourist traffic from about 1 lakh to 28 lakhs by 2020 and the domestic tourist traffic from about 4 crore at present to 6.6 crore by 2020.
The State Government has identified, through various international consultants like the World Tourism Organisation, several tourist spots along the 1000-km long coastline of Andhra Pradesh for developing beach resorts. It is felt that these will provide an excellent opportunity for private entrepreneurs to put up profitable resorts, as all these are untapped and clean beaches that will attract international and domestic tourists with infrastructure development.
Apart from Vodarevu, Kothapatnam and Motupalli in Prakasam district, Hope Island near Kakinada, Antarvedi, Kakinada-Uppada road beach in East Godavari district, Mangamaripeta creek, Rishikonda and Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam district, Perupalem near Narsapur in West Godavari district, Suryalanka near Bapatla in Guntur district, Tuppalipalem (Vakadu) beach, Mypadu beach and Pulicat lake in Nellore district, Kalingapatnam beach, Bandarvaripalem beach and Barua beach in Srikakulam district have also been identified for promotion of beach resorts to attract tourist traffic to the State. The State Government has announced a number of incentives and concessions to attract private entrepreneurs.
