Andhra Pradesh: Illegal structures on Bheemli coast demolished

Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) officials have demolished illegal structures built by Avyaan Realtors LLP, related to Neha Reddy, the daughter of YSRC Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy, along the Bheemli coastline in Visakhapatnam district on Wednesday. The operation commenced early Wednesday morning and was overseen by Bheemli Zone assistant town planning officer B. Srinivasa Rao. Police were present to maintain order and officials reported that the demolition was proceeding smoothly.

GVMC commissioner P. Sampath Kumar, in a statement released on Wednesday, said the demolition follows a public interest litigation filed by Janasena corporator Murthy Yadav, who flagged the unauthorized constructions that breached the regulations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). The High Court had confirmed the violations and directed the GVMC to act swiftly. The court's notice, issued on September 1, 2024, included a provisional order under the APMC Act of 1955 and the APMR & UDA Act of 2016, mandating the removal of unauthorized constructions on the seaward side of the beach. These structures were reportedly constructed without the necessary approvals from Coastal Zone Management (CZM) authorities, thereby violating the regulations.

Murthy Yadav, talking to Deccan Chronicle, expressed concerns over the extensive construction activities along the coastline from Visakhapatnam to Bheemli, which he claims violated CRZ norms during the previous YSRC government. He noted that in 2020, under Vijaya Sai Reddy's supervision, GVMC officials had removed several illegal structures. However, many individuals subsequently began constructing large permanent buildings. Yadav highlighted that numerous new constructions have emerged in 2023 and 2024 within two kilometres of the Bheemli coast, further violating the CRZ regulations.