Bengaluru: DGP H.N. Sathyanarayan Rao, who was in the news as DGP (Prisons) for all wrong reasons, is in trouble again for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms by restructuring a house at Maravanthe beach in Udupi. While Rao is set to hang up his boots on Monday, the Secretary to the Department of Ecology & Environment has written to the Udupi DC to initiate legal action against him. The letter stated that Rao's wife Lakshmi Rao had reconstructed a building at Maravanthe village in Kundapura taluk of Udupi district.
The said building is located in ‘No Development Zone’ under Coastal Regulation Zone-III norms. It is said that Rao was IGP Western Range when he built the said house. Though the Regional Director (Environment) had issued notice to Lakshmi Rao in November 2008 to stop the construction, they went ahead and completed the house and was sold it to one, Arjun Mora Sonar, of Mangaluru.
Even in the District Coastal Zone Management Committee meeting held on December 3, 2011, it was decided that it was a case of violation. Further, in the 18th meeting of Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority held on June 17 this year, it was decided to initiate action under section 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
