The Andhra Pradesh High Court has strongly reprimanded the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) for turning a blind eye to illegal constructions carried out by Penaka Neha Reddy, daughter of former YSR Congress Party general secretary V. Vijay Sai Reddy, on Bheemili Beach.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi expressed displeasure over the unauthorized constructions by Avyaan Realtors LLP, a company owned by Neha Reddy, near the Bheemili coastline.
The court questioned why the authorities under the previous government failed to act on these violations. The petitioners were directed to submit the names of the responsible officials, and the bench warned of strict action against negligent GVMC and revenue department officials.
The judges were reportedly shocked after reviewing photographs showing unauthorized concrete structures built along the seashore.
The court instructed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to promptly dispatch experts to assess the environmental damage caused.
Authorities were also directed to continue demolition of the illegal foundations. Additionally, the court asked the state government to submit survey reports on permanent resto-bars constructed along the coast. The hearing has been adjourned to June 18.
In a previous hearing, the High Court had already ordered the Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority (APCZMA) to file a criminal complaint against those responsible at Avyaan Realtors LLP.
The GVMC Commissioner was also directed to recover demolition costs and environmental damage compensation from the company.