Rushikonda set to become seat of administration in AP

Visakhapatnam: Even as the three-member IAS officers’ committee has confirmed speculation that Rushikonda, a prime beachfront area of Visakhapatnam will become the seat of administration once Chief Minister relocates his residence from Amaravati to the city in December, a division bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to study the alleged violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules and guidelines.

In response to PILs filed by Visakhapatnam East MLA and TDP leader Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu and Jana Sena Party corporator PVLN Yadav, the court directed the ministry to submit a report within three weeks keeping in mind the recommendation of the experts’ committee constituted by it to examine if there are any violations.

Babu later told Bizz Buzz that they will not allow establishment of CMO at Rushikonda by spending huge amounts by AP Tourism Development Corporation and misleading the authorities on blatant violation of CRZ guidelines.

At a review meeting held at Tadepalli, officials briefed Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday evening on the findings of the three-member committee on probable locations for the CMO, residences of Ministers and other senior officials. It was discussed at the meeting that the Chief Minister will spend three days a week in Visakhapatnam and his Ministerial colleagues, top officials and others should find transit accommodation to ensure regular reviews and development of backward areas of North Coastal Andhra.

It may be mentioned here that a case with regard to trifurcation of capital of Andhra Pradesh is expected to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court in December. The general elections are also due in the next few months.

The Committee of Officials, constituted for the identification of suitable accommodation to house various government offices in Visakhapatnam, earlier apprised the Chief Minister on its findings. He was briefed about the details of complexes and buildings identified to house various offices to an extent of 8,01,403 square feet. Officials informed him that they have identified suitable accommodation to house Chief Minister’s Camp Office, residence and other offices of various departments.

They informed him that at present government offices have been functioning in an extent of 2,27,287 square feet in the city. The Millennium Towers at the Rushikonda Hills will provide office space of 1,75,516 square feet and can also house the camp offices of various officials. They said that in addition to these, another area of 3,98,600 square feet has been identified in private buildings.

In the identified available space, offices of all departments and camp offices can be comfortably accommodated, the committee concluded. Andhra University Distance Education and Open Varsity Blocs, VMRDA complex at Siripuram, Millennium A Tower and tourism resorts at Rushikonda rebuilt by AP Tourism Development Corporation at a cost of about Rs 200 crore Hill and Millennium B Tower have been identified to house the Chief Minister’s Camp Office and accommodation, the committee told him.

Among these five places, the tourist resort complexes on Rushikonda were found to be most ideal venues for housing the Chief Minister’s Camp Office as they offer hassle-free VIP moments in and around while not posing security issues and inconvenience to the general public, the committee said.