NGT stays Rushikonda hill tourism project in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: The principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has ordered an interim stay on the construction of the proposed tourism project on Rushikonda hill abutting the beach in Visakhapatnam

The ruling YSRCP rebel leader, Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, had filed a complaint with the principal Bench stating that environmental norms were being violated during the construction atop the Rushikonda hill. He had alleged violation of the master plan notified by the urban development department under the AP Urban Development Areas (Development) Act of 1975.

The area is environmentally sensitive and under the Public Trust Doctrine, the state needs to protect the same as per constitutional mandate by taking suitable measures, he had said.

On 17 December 2021, the tribunal appointed a four-member committee of CPCB, state PCB, State-Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), and district magistrate, Visakhapatnam, to undertake a site visit, interact with the stakeholders, and take remedial action.

The committee found that the area falls in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ-II) as per mapping done by Anna University. It said it needs to be verified whether as per Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP), the category of the site is CRZ II. "Further, we find it necessary to ascertain from an independent committee whether such project is viable," said the tribunal.

The NGT constituted a joint committee of the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA), AP Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA), and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), with APCZMA being the nodal agency for coordination and compliance. The committee will look into the permissible use as per the approved CZMP and environmental viability of the project and whether CRZ clearance needs to be revisited. "Till the next date of hearing, no further constructions may be undertaken," ordered the tribunal.