Why the Rushikonda Hill project is steeped in controversy Premium

Controversial construction of luxury buildings atop Rushikonda Hill in Visakhapatnam sparks public outrage and environmental concerns.

In August 2021, workers blasted through massive rocks and earthmovers churned relentlessly to demolish the government-owned understated Haritha Resorts atop Rushikonda Hill in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, transforming the serene landscape into a dust-choked construction zone. This move by the former government led by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) came much to the dismay of both locals and tourists, who had always cherished Rushikonda’s ‘blue-flag’ beach, a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education.

The State government announced that a five-star hotel, aimed at boosting tourism in the City of Destiny, would be built on the hilltop. However, this justification did little to quell the mounting scepticism. Questions were raised over the logic behind damaging an ecologically sensitive zone to tap tourism potential.

Environmentalist and former IAS officer E.A.S. Sarma was among many who objected to the construction on the hill and wrote to the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) authorities urging them to halt the activity. He pointed out that as per the G.O. no. 3454 of the MA&UD dated June 30, 2006, the natural features, especially the hilly terrain, need to be conserved.

The then ruling YSRCP had planned to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital of A.P., and some members of the party claimed that the new structure would serve as the Chief Minister’s camp office. The issue created an uproar, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition parties then — Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Visakhapatnam East MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu who called for a protest at Rushikonda at that time was put under house arrest while his supporters were detained at various places while proceeding to the hill. “People have the right to know what is being constructed on the Rushikonda Hill. When there are so many places in the city, what was the need to destroy a government property which was generating good revenue,” he had asked.

The construction site atop the hill was heavily fortified with 25-foot-high iron barricades, transforming the area into a prohibited zone for the public, political representatives, and even the media. Responding on the TDP allegations, the then Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao had said that the existing old resort would be re-developed, as the potential of Rushikonda has gone up manifold after being certified as a ‘Blue Flag’ beach. “It is a legal project and all permissions and clearances have been obtained. Primarily, it is for the development of tourism that will have a holistic positive impact, including employment generation.”

The demolition of this historically revered site, once believed to be the meditation spot of the ‘Sapta Rishi’ (seven holy sages), drew fierce criticism from locals. “Many believe that the hill was named after Sapta Rishis, who had performed penance on it. There is no proof to substantiate it though. But, at the foot of the hill, there is a Lord Siva temple, which is believed to be 150 years old. The hill falls under the Thotlakonda, Bavikonda and Pavuralakonda Buddhist heritage circuit, and we cannot rule out a 2nd century Buddhist connection, as no exploration, excavation or investigation has been taken up. The name of the hill might have also come from this connection,” K. Suryanarayana, former head of History department, Andhra University, points out.