Jana Sena Corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav, who filed a case in the High Court, cautioned that it is not possible to lease the disputed Rushikonda buildings while the hearing is pending in the state High Court. He warned that the Tourism Authority had issued a public notification on the 11th of this month regarding the hospitality consultation notice for Rushikonda buildings, and that issuing such a notification would be in violation of the High Court.
He said that the undated Rushikonda project information was circulated in private WhatsApp groups and on the tourism website, He recalled that a special meeting was organized at the Vijayawada Tourism Office on the 17th of this month on the use of Rushikonda buildings for national and international hospitality operators.
He said that a ‘3’ page colorful note was communicated in some selected WhatsApp groups and websites. He recalled that a Public Interest Litigation Writ Petition No. 241/2021 is pending and the High Court Division Bench has ordered the formation of an expert committee through the MoEF & CC.
This expert committee has visited the Rushikonda buildings and, in fact, the committee has observed the violations and destruction that took place thereafter and is awaiting the report, he said. As per the previous judgments of the Supreme Court, such illegal structures constructed in violation of CRZ norms should be demolished, fined and criminal action should be initiated, he added.
Murthy Yadav said that all these will be decided by the High Court. He said that it is wrong to issue such public notices while such a case related to serious environmental violations is pending. Moreover, he accused that this is nothing but a conspiracy to protect the officials who violated the laws and their political masters who made them do so.
He warned that if necessary, all of them should be investigated under various provisions of the Criminal Code and, conversely, inviting people and institutions to invest money, issuing such notices would be reckless with the pending court proceedings.
He clarified that the AP Tourism Development Corporation is a party to the High Court case and all the officials involved in it will have to face serious action. He warned that if the officials do not stop all further activities, he will approach the High Court for investigation, including such action under the Contempt of Court Act.