Visakhapatnam: Activists want Centre to cancel nod to park

Visakhapatnam: Heritage and cultural rights’ activists demand the Ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF) to revoke environmental clearance for the proposed industrial park at Kapulupada of Bheemunipatnam mandal in the district. They claim that it will disturb the potential archaeological evidence available in that area.

City-based heritage activist Rani Sarma Emani said: “The former state government had misled the MoEF while submitting proposals for environment clearance for the industrial park to be set up by AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation  within the notified limits of Thotlakonda archaeological site.”

Terming the green nod as violation of the AP High Court order, Ms Emani said that no construction activity can be undertaken within the limits of archaeological site. Research work had been carried out by several researchers including Lars Fogelin, a US scholar who found invaluable archaeological evidence in and around Thotlakonda Buddhist site, she said.

It is illegal to allot land for an industrial park at archaeological sites and any construction activity is prohibited in that area. Andhra University anthropology professor K. Thimma Reddy and two others filed a petition and AP High Court restricted development activity within the boundaries of Thotlakonda ancient site.

Though there was a clear direction from the court, structures were raised for Tourist Amenity Centre, Buddhist Cultural Centre, Navy Radar Centre and other structures at Thotlakonda archaeological site. Department of Archaeology and tourism have been precluded from making constructions as per the court orders.

According to a source in archaeology department, the extent of Thotlakonda site is more than 3,000 acres. About one-and-half years back, the revenue department demarcated 120.88 acres for the archaeology department However, the GO is yet to be issued.

“The ancient path of Buddhist monks starts at Mangamaripeta. Indian Navy wants to cut through that route. After the court orders were issued, construction activity has almost stalled here. But, a temporary building was put up for keeping their vehicle and security personnel,” the source informed.

Heritage activists urge the government agencies to respect the sanctity of this archaeological site. Moreover, it is hill Poramboke land and comes under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) limits. Construction activity here is a blatant violation of all Central and state laws on protection of archaeological sites. It also amounts to contempt of court.