Submit Rushikonda lease details: HC tells AP govt

Vijayawada: The high court of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday directed the state govt to submit details pertaining to the leasing out of Rushikonda buildings. Former Jana Sena corporator P Murthy Yadav moved the high court, contending that Rushikonda buildings were constructed without requisite permissions, and sought directions to prevent Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) from leasing out those buildings to third parties.TDP legislator and Murthy Yadav filed separate PILs before the high court in 2021, contending that the constructions on Rushikonda lack environmental clearances and are in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. Murthy Yadav filed an interlocutory application pleading to prevent APTDC from leasing out the said buildings, which were built in violation of norms.Arguing on behalf of the state govt, special govt pleader S Pranati told the high court that the govt invited an expression of interest for utilising the buildings for tourism purposes.

She said that after receiving the proposals from interested parties, a cabinet subcommittee will review and take a final decision. She said that the buildings have not been leased out yet.Arguing on behalf of Murthy Yadav, senior counsel K S Murthy told the bench that the high court earlier directed the union ministry of environment and forests to assess the environmental damage caused due to illegal construction.

The committee from MoEF visited Rushikonda but did not submit its report yet.Responding on behalf of the union govt, additional solicitor general Challa Dhanunjaya submitted that the report could not be submitted as one of the members of the committee passed away. He said that the committee has to be reconstituted and sought time for submission of the report.Considering the submissions on all sides, the high court bench headed by Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Challa Gunaranjan directed the state govt to file a counter affidavit.