Citizens join hands to preserve the geological marvel of Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam

The million years old Erra Matti Dibbalu is one among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India

Many would think it is a crazy pastime... to walk along a seemingly endless stretch of red sandy hills on a sultry morning, gathering bits of strewn plastic and paper. Yet, a group of 45 people did just that last weekend, collecting bagfuls of waste. While cleanup drives are not uncommon in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, what makes this exercise different is the location: Erra Matti Dibbalu, a geological marvel unique to the coast of Visakhapatnam. Located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu are rare red sand dunes that are a reminder of the million years of geological processes, and among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India. The width of the dunes, which runs for five kilometres along the coast, varies from 200 metres to two kilometres. Located at a distance of 16 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, the towering red sand dunes with patches of greenery is like a meandering maze, which takes one on a fascinating journey into one of the best kept secrets of the geological world, formed millions of years ago.

During the cleanup drive led by citizen groups including Vizag Volunteers and India Youth For Society, around 250 kilograms of waste was collected from the west side of the sandy dunes, then methodically segregated for disposal. “This is the sixth time in the recent past that we have stepped into this site to clear the trash. And each time, it is heartbreaking to witness trash piling up at this precious geo heritage spot,” says Jayshree Hatangadi, who conducts heritage walks in the city. She has been actively involved in narrating the history of the city’s prominent landmarks and leading the way towards heritage conservation. These earnest drives, involving an increasing number of locals, are an important first step towards protecting the red sand dunes. For, as experts point out, there are greater challenges ahead.“Besides being unusual, the rare sand dunes are valuable scientific documents and are an important link to the history of geological evolution,” says D Rajashekhar Reddy, advisor, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH and retired professor, Department of Geology, Andhra University. The dunes comprise a light yellow sand dune at the top followed by a brick red sand unit, and a reddish brown concretion bearing sand unit with yellow sand at the bottom.