Why there is no end to this sea erosion?

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 07 June 2011: It is time now for the quarry owners to prepare and keep the huge 1 – 2 quintal size rocks. The rain has already started, so the sea erosion will also be ready to start. In Udupi and South Kenara districts, like every year the rocks are required to place them at the locations of sea erosion and as every year the government will release lakhs of rupees for this purpose. The contractors need to be readily prepared to bring the rocks and dump them immediately once the instructions given to them upon sea erosion.

 

But there is no such advance instructions given to the quarry – lorry owners and contractors so far by the Port – Fishing Department Officers. But still the contractors have made the preparations and are just waiting when the sea erosion will start..!

 

 

Sea erosion is an annual unfortunate phenomenon or disaster during the 3 months of monsoon rainy season as far as the twin districts are concerned. The Irrigation department and also Port – Fishing Department have made every attempts to prevent this since the last 20 years. They have mobilized expert consultants from various places, implemented different technologies, leave aside the projects they have spent crores of rupees for planning itself!, but could never stop the sea erosion.

 

As per the information available with the District Administration, in the last 10 years, rupees 80 crores has been spent for the sea erosion in Udupi – Dakshina Kannada districts! But the erosion has not stopped, all this money is a waste, as if washing the tamarind in the sea!.

 

The placing of rocks to stop erosion was first initiated by Irrigation department and then by the Port Department, since the last 20 years. In these 20 years approximately at least rupees 130 crores has been released from the government and being wasted.

 

This erosion or the sea consuming the land at the shore is not the story of today or yesterday. In the 140 kilometers sea shore of the twin districts the erosion is taking place in 30 kilometer areas from time unknown. But reckoning of the losses of people’s houses and farms to sea erosion were considered as natural disasters only after 1980. Attempts are being made to prevent this since 1990.

 

To prevent this, a wall is being formed at shore with the huge rocks. In emergency even sand bags are deposited at the erosion areas. But the strength of the sea waves are so much that leave alone the sand bags, even the 1 – 5 quintal rocks gets into the sea, that means the lakhs of rupees spent on the loads of rocks and sand bags are all draining in sea water.

 

In the earlier days, many of the state port department ministers toured to foreign countries such as Japan, France to make a study on the technologies, to prevent this erosion and upon their return have even announced their plans, given report to the government, but nothing has been implemented.

 

Even today the planning for our coastal sea erosion is being carried out by a company called Water Power Research Center from Pune. For this assignment, this company is being paid lakhs of rupees every year, but still the plans do not succeed.

 

Anyway, in few days from now, in Udupi – Dakshina Kannada districts the annual tragedy called sea erosion will begin to take place. Hundreds of houses, coconut plantation, roads of fishing department, mescom electric poles which are on the sea shore will become part of the sea. Offices, MLA’s, Ministers will run to the spots, see the situation and will give assurances to the journalists who are following them that a permanent wall will be built in the future.

 

But again the same comedy of spending crores of rupees on dumping the rocks will take place, the contractors pockets gets filled. Seeing the carelessness of the government, irresponsibility of the officers, helpless suffering people, the sea which is consuming all the rocks, just laughs to itself!