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Protect the landmark for the future

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Unique formations The one among the few rare red sand hills sites in the world

There is something in common between the dacoit-infested Chambal area in Madhya Pradesh and Visakhapatnam. Any guess? Need not panic! There is nothing to do with dreaded dacoits, but the locale, which is popularly called as the Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red sand hills), located near Bheemunipatnam, which has a striking resemblance with the ravines of Chambal. Many say that at a glance it looks like a mini Chambal.

Abutting the coast of Bay of Bengal, to the south of the Bheemunipatnam ridge the 4 km in length and 2 km in width deeply gullied red sand dunes has been a major tourist attraction since decades. This unique geological feature is bounded by two perennial streams ‘Chittigedda’ and ‘Peddagedda’.

Prof. M. Jagannadha Rao from Department of Geology, Andhra University, says that the red sand hill formations are important geological feature and are one among the few rare sites in the world. Scientists say that the formations date back to the Pleistocene period from 1.8 million years ago to around 10,000 years. “During this period the sea level were higher than the present level and paleo-dunal complexes were result of the oscillation of the sea level,” says he.

The professor who has done considerable research on that area says that red sand hills were once up to 40 metres high are now not more than 15 m. high and they extended from the Ramakrishna Beach area to Bheemunipatnam. He further adds, “The mineralogy of sand containing red sediment is almost similar to the present day dune sands except for minerals like garnet which are absent in red sediments and it is due to oxidation and leaching of these unstable minerals which contribute to the red colour. Garnet and other unstable minerals convert into iron oxide contributing to the red colour of the sand.”

Another theory suggests that what we see today is the result of neo-tectonic activity that took place about 6,000 years ago. The neo-tectonic activity changed the course of Gosthani River and the patterns were result of such series of tectonic activity.

Whatever, be the cause of formation of these red sand hills Dr. Jagannadha Rao says that they need to be preserved not only as tourist locales but also for their scientific importance and for the future generations.

The area had come into prominence in the recent times much due to the controversy surrounding the construction of tourist facilities in that area. Sohan Hatangadi of INTACH says that for all its geological importance and rarity the site needs to be protected from encroachment, unlawful construction and vandalism.

“We have already lost a major portion of the sand hills, thanks to rapid construction activity, and what remains is a small island near Bheemunipatnam. There can be no construction activity as proposed by the A P Tourism Department. Apart from that the authorities should declare it as an environmentally sensitive site to protect it from casual picnickers and film shooting who indulge in vandalism. The public need to be sensitised about its importance,” says he.

Sohan adds that INTACH has submitted a detailed proposal to the tourism department on how the site can be preserved and yet allow visitors. “We have recommended to convert it into an eco-tourism site. Almost all aspects like tenets of eco-tourism, basic infrastructure, material to be used in making the infrastructure (natural material only), handling of tourist, handling of rubbish material, CRZ norms, rules for visitors and equipments to be used,” informs he.

The Department of tourism in a statement clarifies that the proposal was to build basic tourist infrastructure without harming the dunes and not shopping complexes as reported in certain sections of the media. “Moreover, even that has been deferred after receiving the recommendations from INTACH. The recommendations have been sent to the head office for consideration,” informed the Divisional Manager of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Jeevan Prasad.

Both Sohan and Jagannadha Rao are of the opinion that the site needs to be protected for the future generation and any sort of activity should be undertaken only after consultation with the scientific community.

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