Central committee inspects constructions at Bheemili beach

Visakhapatnam: An expert committee constituted by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change conducted an inspection on Friday at Bheemili beach to assess unauthorised constructions allegedly carried out by Avyaan Realtors, owned by P Neha Reddy and P Rohit Reddy—the daughter and son-in-law of former Rajya Sabha member P Vijaya Sai Reddy. These constructions reportedly violated coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules.The Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority has filed a case in the Bheemili court against the company for constructing a concrete wall within CRZ limits without prior approval, violating provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Though the GVMC partially demolished the wall up to ground level, underground remnants still remain to be cleared.This inspection follows a public interest litigation (PIL No. 53/2024) filed in the AP High Court by Jana Sena corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav, who raised concerns about the large-scale unauthorised concrete structures built on the beach. The High Court ordered the immediate demolition of the illegal constructions and directed authorities to enforce environmental regulations strictly.The expert committee, comprising scientists from the National Institute of Oceanography, Coastal Zone Management Authority, State Pollution Control Board, and Central environment ministry, inspected the site to evaluate the environmental damage caused by the constructions. The committee also collected detailed information related to the case from Murthy Yadav and is expected to submit its report to the high court.The CRZ regulations, framed under the Environment Protection Act, aim to safeguard coastal ecosystems by restricting constructions within a buffer zone from the high tide line.