Hope Island is narrow stretch of sandy foramtion in the Bay of Bengal, that has created the Bay of Kakinada. This island is roughly about 18 kms in length extending North-South at about a distance of 5 km from the shores of Kakinada City.

The island started taking its shape since the last 200 years, due to the sand drifting in front of the mouth of the tributary river of Godavari. This island is currently a narrow strip at the Southern side and where it meets the Main land amid a large concentration of Mangroves. This narrow strip extends north words almost up to a length of 11-12 kms before getting broadened. The narrow stretch varies with a width ranging between 300m to 700m. The broader part at the Northern end is about 4.5 Sq. km in area with a width of about 1.2 km.

The tip of the island at he northern part is called the "Godavari point" and it overlooks the entry point into the Bay of Kakinada and the Kakinada harbor.

IMPORTANCE OF HOPE ISLAND:

The island presents an excellent scenic beauty with backwaters on one side and sandy beaches on the other side facing the Bay of Bengal. The island has been instrumental in providing protection to the city of kakinada from the strong cyclone/tidal waves coming from the Bay of Bengal. The island avoids the strong sea currents from entering the Bay of kakinada, there by making kakinada harbor, the safest port on the East cost.

The natural protection to kakinada has boosted its importance as an important port city. Recent developments along the Cost line have placed kakinada on the Industrial map of the country. With many more developments (There are proposals for special Economic zone, creation of LNG terminal and several other oil& pertroleum related projected) due to come up at kakinada, the protection of Hope island becomes important .

FUTURE OF HOPE ISLAND:

This is in the vake of finding that revealed that Hope island is getting cut off at about 3 points along the Southern narrow stretch.

Recent visits of the Chief Minister Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, to the district stressed the importance of the island and its beauty. The Chief Minister went ahead in proposing a Rs.19,000 crore LNG project to setup on the island. He is also pursuing development of a tourist resort spot on the island. The land allocation for both the projects are going on.

WANT TO VISIT HOPE ISLAND?

M.S.SWAMINATHAN RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Mangrove Conservation & Management
7-5a-2/1, Gopalakrishna Street
Ramarapet, KAKINADA - 533 004
Ph: 91-884-365604, 380095
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