Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
In a significant development, EAS Sarma, former secretary to the Government of India, has written to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) alleging that 50-60% of the GSI-notified “Geo-Heritage Park”, of Erra Matti Dibbalu (EMD) have been destroyed by some builders through evident connivance with some local officials.
The former Secretary confirmed this to CFC India and shared a copy of the letter with this author besides other details. The letter dated August 12 sought deputation of an expert team to look into the environmental damage caused to the EMD. It stressed that the flattening of the sand dunes is a serious environmental crime and pointed out that the associated biodiversity that the EMD supports has also been damaged irreversibly during the destruction of the EMD.
What is Erra Matti Dibbalu (EMD)?
EMD, which is situated close to the sea coast near Bheemunipatnam, a suburb of Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh, is a rare natural formation of red sand dunes. They are spread across an area of approximately 20 sq km. In 2014, the Geological Survey of India declared EMD as a geo-heritage site and the state government declared it as a protected area in 2016.
According to experts, these dunes ‘might have been formed nearly 18,500 ago during glacial maxima period, when the sea is believed to have gone back to over 50 km away from the shore due to climatic changes, leaving vast stretches of sand dune deposits.’
Experts have also pointed out that they are very rare and ‘have been reported only from three places in the tropical regions in south Asia such as Teri Sands in Tamil Nadu, Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam and one more site in Sri Lanka.’
Endangered by a housing project nearby
Sarma’s letter highlighted that the ‘the local administration, some years ago, allotted a part of a huge stretch of government land, without identifying boundaries, in favour of Bheemunipatnam Mutually Aided Co-operative Building Society (BCBS) (BMACBS) for a housing colony, without caring to protect the geo-heritage characteristics of the feature.’
The letter added that ‘the local municipal corporation (GVMC) recently issued approval for a housing lay-out subject to a number of pre-conditions to be fulfilled by BMACBS before starting any construction work. Those conditions included, among several other requirements, the requirement of prior Environment Impact Appraisal and Environment Clearance under the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA) and CRZ clearance as parts of the lay-out are located within the fragile portion of CRZ-I.’
‘However, recently BMACBS took law in its hands without fulfilling the prescribed conditions, including obtaining a statutory Environment Clearance (EC) and without prior approval under CRZ notification and destroyed 50-60% of the EMD, evidently through connivance with some local officials,’ Sarma alleged in the letter.
Sarma also shared a notice given by GVMC to BMACBS with us which was issued after the ‘society failed to submit its proposal for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and environmental clearance under the EPA and did not also care to obtain clearance under the CRZ notification.’
According to reports, revenue officials recently halted the ground levelling at EMD following an outcry from environmental activists. Videos showing heavy machinery digging up the red sand dunes and flattening the area for a planned housing colony had earlier gone viral on social media.
The housing society involved in the levelling activity claimed, according to the news reports, that it had secured all necessary permits from the relevant departments for the housing project. However, environmental activists argue that the issue arose due to the lack of clear boundary demarcation for the protected geological heritage site.
Suggestions put forward by Sarma in the letter
The former secretary to the Government of India went on to provide some suggestions in the letter in this regard. He requested for the deputation of an expert team to assess the environmental damage caused. Environmental damage should include direct damage to the EMD which is a natural rain water drainage system, loss of tree cover, loss of biodiversity, loss of nature-deposited sand dunes and damage to the CRZ-I portion and its impact on loss of bio-resources, he added.
Sarma also suggested that the team may comprise of a representative of Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), the GSI, the local Conservator of Forests and the local chapter of INTACH represented by its convener, Prof Rajasekhar Reddy who, in his own right, is an eminent geologist familiar with the heritage value of the feature.
MFCC may recover the full cost of the environmental damage from BMACBS and may also impose a deterrent penalty on the society for their brazen conduct, Sarma suggested in the letter. Sarma also urged that measures should be taken to protect the residual portion of the EMD in consultation with INTACH, GSI and the District Collector of Visakhapatnam.
Needs also to be protected, to study impact of climate change
The fact that the site has much significance from a climate change point of view is also noteworthy. According to experts, it can be used to study the impact of climate change as they have been a witness to a long-period in Earth’s history.
‘’Primarily this site needs to be protected to study the impact of climate change, as Erra Matti Dibbalu have seen both the glacial and the warm periods,’’ adviser to the Geo-Heritage Cell of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and former professor of Geology, Andhra University, D. Rajasekhar Reddy was quoted as saying in a report by The Hindu.
‘’The uniqueness of this site is that the red sediments are a part of the continuation of the evolution of the earth and represent the late quaternary geologic age. With a height of up to 30m, they exhibit badland topography with different geomorphic landforms and features, including gullies, sand dunes, buried channels, beach ridges, paired terraces, the valley in the valley, wave-cut terrace, knick point and waterfalls.’’
‘’It is a lively scientific evolution site, which depicts the real-time effects of climate change. About 18,500 years ago, the sea (Bay of Bengal) was at least 5 km behind from the present coastline. Since then it has been undergoing continuous active changes till about 3,000 years ago and still the changes are on,” Dr. Rajasekhar Reddy was further quoted as saying in the The Hindu report.
References:
Watch videos from the guy’s point of view to feel just like
you’re right in the middle of the action and obtain a good view!
You will discover big booties in virtually any other category it is possible to think of!
Whether you’re into curvy teens, sexy MILFs, or thick Asians, each of them have a spot here.
Check out the bouncing, backshots, and incredible action in group sex,
gangbangs, anal, one-on-one, and many more. https://sex-pointkymz368147.livebloggs.com/34778439/the-place-to-seek-out-how-to-take-nudes-with-big-boobs