Visakhapatnam: Environmentalists and geo-heritage enthusiasts are critical of the state government's reluctance to declare more of the geologically significant Erra Matti Dibbalu in Bheemili as a heritage site. In July this year, the state government issued orders (GO No. 99) notifying only 262 acres of Erra Matti Dibbalu, the red sand dunes on the Bheemili Beach Road, as a geo-heritage site. These unique sand dunes are spread over many more hundreds of acres. Environmentalists have called for much more of the area to be declared a heritage site, but the government has not responded.
Even before the notification was issued, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach)'s national geo-heritage cell adviser Dr D. Rajasekhar Reddy, wrote to the then district collector, on November 20, 2015, explaining why more of the area needs to be protected. "Even now there is no action from the government to rectify it. The extent needs to be increased and notified so that protective measures can be taken," said Intach member Edward Paul.
The scenic red sand dunes on the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road were formed around 12,000 years ago. They are geologically important scientific documents as they were created during the Late Quaternary geological period, showing the imprints of sea-level fall (LGM - Last Glacial Maxima) and subsequent rise, impact of climate, monsoon and geological processes in the sediments. They are also scientifically rare paleo-coastal red sand dunes.
These dunes are not only a rare geological formation and beautiful to look at, they also contain a wealth of geological and historical information as they developed over millennia. Former secretary to the Government of India, E.A.S. Sarma has also recently written to the Ministry of Environ-ment and Forests (MoEF) and the state government to extend the protected site.
“I am surprised that neither the MoEF nor the State and the local authorities have considered my objections and taken corrective steps. I understand that there are influential persons who are having a heavy stake in the housing complex coming up within the notified area of Erramatti Dibbalu and, in connivance with them, the local authorities are moving forward to permit the construction work, which will permanently damage this unique geological heritage site,' said Mr Sarma in his letter to MoEF secretary, A.N. Jha and state municipal administration and urban development department principal secretary Karikal Velaven. District collector Pravin Kumar told this correspondent that the GO notifying Matti Dibbalu was issued based on inputs from the GSI.
