Vizag Beach Under Assault

Levelling the beach within the sensitive CRZ I zone (sandy portion) causing an irreversible damage to an otherwise pristine and scenic beach and its valuable marine resources.
To
Ms Leena Nandan,
Union Secretary (Environment & Forests). New Delhi.
Dear Ms Nandan,
I have enclosed here pictures of how the local municipal body, Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC), for the last several days, has deployed proclains/ excavators and has been extensively “levelling” the beach within the sensitive CRZ I zone (sandy portion) causing an irreversible damage to an otherwise pristine and scenic beach and its valuable marine resources.
In Annexure III to the CRZ Notification, there are clear restrictions on any activity to be undertaken on the beach, which I have extracted below:

“The project proponent shall not undertake any construction within 200 metres in the landward side of High Tide Line and within the area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line;

(b) The proposed constructions shall be beyond the hazard line or 200mts from the High Tide Line whichever is more

…………

(d) no flattening of sand dunes shall be carried out;’

The pictures I have enclosed  clearly show the damage already caused and the damage under way. 

I would request the Environment Ministry to ask its Regional Office to inspect the site and direct the GVMC and the district administration to stop the works forthwith.

In particular, those responsible for causing such an extensive damage need to be brought to book and penalised in accordance with the “polluter pays” principle, in addition to imposing a deterrent penalty.

GVMC had been an active partner in multiple CRZ violations on the city’s coastline, where many huge structures were allowed to come up in violation of the CRZ norms. The latest is a further attempt to make a mockery of the CRZ notification issued by your Ministry.

I am surprised that your Regional Office has not reacted to this and not kept you informed.

May I call upon you to act firmly and in time to save the beach that belongs to us, the citizens of the city?

Regards,

Yours sincerely,

E A S Sarma,

(Former Secretary to Government of India)

Visakhapatnam

27-2-2023 

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