Visakhapatnam resort sent to oblivion

Visakhapatnam: The sight of a hotel management institute that has come up in the place of a tourism project —Senora Beach Resorts and Club promoted by AP Tourism Development Corporation — is leaving residents of Yendada quite disturbed.

Senora was closed after suffering damages during Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 and was never reopened. From the past few months, Sun International Institution has started its beach campus in the same building at Yendada.

“The ministry of environment and forests had approved construction of a beach resort project by relaxing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) regulations. It would never allow an educational institute to set up in CRZ-III area,” said Teddu Sankar Rao, a resident.

 As per the CRZ norms, only two-storey buildings of nine-metre height are allowed in CRZ-III area.

However, fishermen-related development is allowed in this zone. Sun Beach Campus is neither a tourism project nor is it meant for fishermen community.

Senora’s lifetime members, who have been waiting for its reopening, were surprised to see a private institute in place of the resort for which the land was awarded by the APTDC. They demanded the club management to refund their membership fees.

Each member had paid more than Rs 25,000 for lifetime membership of the club during its inception in 2004. Over 1,000 persons had enrolled themselves. Now, they are asking the management to make an alternative arrangement for recreation.

BJP MP Gokaraju Gangaraju’s Laila Group had been managing the resorts till 2014. It has handed over the building to Sun International. As per the state government’s land allotment policy, a sub-lease agreement cannot be made by the lease holder.

I.N. Kumar, CFO of Laila Group denied any sub-lease agreement and said, “Some of our directors have a share in the institute and they are utilising the building to train students in hotel management. But, there is no revenue aspect involved in the deal.”

According to Sun International chairman Srikanth Jasti, they would handle eight activities of the resorts along with hotel management courses. Since bar and education centre together cannot exist, it would not resume the bar operations.   

Mr Jasti said, “We have done trial run during last six months at this campus. The renovation works are still going on here. We are planning to start operations from August after acquiring clearances from the Environment ministry.”

AP Tourism secretary has earlier intimated the institute to include Senora in the name of the campus as it is the lease agreement holder of the premises.

Mr Jasti said that they would soon replace the board; the new board will say ‘Sun Senora Beach Campus’.