I refer to GORt No 130 dated 29-7-2021 issued by the State Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C) Dept granting Rs 1.60 Crores as “compensation” in favour of a private company, M/s. Vinayagar Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd, Visakhapatnam.
The State Tourism Department knowingly permitted Vinayagar Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd in the past to set up a permanent structure on the coastline of the city in brazen violation of the CRZ norms, despite protests from many of us. GVMC and the erstwhile VUDA officers, who are supposed to be the custodians of the CRZ norms, connived with the company and the State Tourism Department to allow such illegal structures to come up. Hon’ble AP High Court in their order dated 3-3-2014 in WP No.26164/ 2007 passed the following direction to the authorities.
“We direct the State Government for removal of the irregular constructions, if not already done, in accordance with law and after giving opportunity of hearing to all the concerned. This exercise shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order without fail.– ”
The concerned authorities, who are ever ready to demolish the huts of poor families in Vizag at the drop of a hat, have had no hesitation to wait for seven long years to implement the court orders. Now, they have taken the courageous decision at last to demolish the illegal resort, only after bowing down to the wishes of the law-breaker for paying a huge compensation of Rs 1.60 crores to the company at the cost of the tax-payer of the State.
Why should the tax-payer pay for the sins committed by the corrupt officers of all these departments? In the normal course, one would expect the law-breaker to be asked to pay a deterrent penalty, but in the instant case, the penalty is being imposed on the innocent taxpayer! Is it just?
I have enclosed two separate judgements of the Hon’ble APn High Court directing the authorities to identify all those who have violated the CRZ norms and take urgent action including removal of the illegal structures. A star hotel near the RK Beach had drilled borewells and is drawing water in outright violation of the CRZ norms and in violation of one of the court judgements enclosed here. Instead of taking action against that errant hotel, I find that the State conducts many official meetings there. How can the State govt be expected to act honestly in such cases?
There is no question of the AP tax payer bearing the cost of the largesse doled out by the YAT&C Dept to M/s. Vinayagar Hotels & Resorts Pvt. Ltd. The entire amount should be recovered from the pockets of the politicians responsible and also the officers of GVMC, the erstwhile VUDA and the Tourism Dept. who were instrumental in giving irregular clearances. Departmental and criminal proceedings should be launched against all of them and heavy penalties imposed on the private company.
I also request you to order an investigation into the circumstances under which the Tourism Department has come to the questionable decision that the errant company should be paid compensation.
There are numerous such illegal structures standing along the city coastline, in violation of the CRZ norms. I request the State govt to obtain a list of those structures, identify the officers who were responsible for giving clearances for them and take penal action against them, in addition to demolishing the structures.
I hope you will act without hesitation.
(Full text of the letter Dr EAS Sarma has written to the Chief Secretary, Govt of Andhra Pradesh)