Geomats or govt hiding its mistakes? Rumors strife after green mats cover Rushikonda

Visakhapatnam: “Green mats over Rushikonda?” is trending online after photos of a green carpet-like cover was seen on the Rushikonda hill. Rumors are officials have covered the excavation site with a geomat technology in the Rushikonda area ahead of the Global Investors Summit and G20 Summit in March. About 250 delegates from all over the world are expected to attend the conference from G20 countries.

Social media is trending with memes about Rushikonda hill and why the ruling government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is trying to cover up its mistakes. There were allegations that the officials have covered the excavated part ahead of the G20 Summit and environmental committee visit to Vizag.

The authorities are yet to give an official clarification.

What is geomatting?

Geomatting is a technology used for good vegetation growth and reducing soil erosion. Geomats and biomats are designed to control soil erosion caused by rainwater, runoff, and wind. Erosion control revegetation is used to retain fine soil particles and to ensure successful vegetation growth by encouraging fast grass germination. Any further damage to nature can be prevented by using some of these techniques.

History of the excavated site

A tourism resort run by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) was demolished in February 2022. Now, the state government plans to construct a 5-storey hotel-cum-resort at a cost of Rs. 190 crores. As the work on the new project started, the officials put up barricades.

According to former Union energy secretary E.A.S. Sarma, the total project work, according to the assurance given at the time by APTDC, was to be confined to 9.88 acres only. However, they undertook extensive excavation and construction activities over a much larger area compared to what it had stated to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). They also dumped the waste material along a 1-km stretch of the Rushikonda beach, spoiling its beauty and violating the CRZ conditions stipulated by the MoEFCC.

Several environmentalists alleged that the area’s destruction was for commercial purposes, damaging the environment and beauty of Rushikonda hill. A contempt petition was filed by Jana Sena Party corporator P.V.L.N. Murthy Yadav, who alleged that even as the High Court, in an earlier order, had asked the authorities concerned to follow the norms, “rampant mining” was being done atop the ecologically sensitive hill.

In December 2022, a Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court led by Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra directed the MoEFCC to set up a five-member expert committee to look into the alleged violations of environmental protection laws in the construction work being carried out atop Rushikonda. The committee comprises an officer/scientist from the MoEFCC, the National Coastal Zone Management Authority, the National Institute of Oceanography, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the CPWD, who will do a thorough assessment of the works being done at the site.