Authorities rush to the sea shore as erosion began in Udupi

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 18 June 2011: Like every year the monsoon sea erosion started already. Anticipating this situation, the people’s representatives, Port department Officers rushed to the spot, inspected the condition and gave instructions to the contractors to put rocks in those places. Along with that they also began giving assurances that a permanent solution will be implemented.

 
At the same time, the process called erosion prevention is also getting started. Also the dealings for dumping the rocks for the stop wall will take place. All these have become the annual work at the coastal area which happens every year!

 
Work of dumping the rocks has already began on Friday in Udupi’s Udyavara Padukare, Kanakoda areas with the cost of lakhs of rupees. The rocks dumped in this place last year spending lakhs of rupees have already disappeared in the sea!

 
Good rain has been coming in the coast from the last 2 weeks, with the background of full moon, on Wednesday – Thursday as expected heavy sea erosion has begun to take place here and there at the shore. In Padukare, Koplu, Kanakoda areas the waves have penetrated about 30 meters into the shore than its usual locations and is moving towards the fisheries roads. In Padukare when the waves hit the shore the water is splashing on the road. And if the erosion continue like this there is no doubt that the road will become part of the sea. Even last year the road was subjected to erosion.

 
Even in Maravanthe of Kundapura Taluk the sea has moved 20 meter into shore and the waves hit the rocks which are dumped on the shore of national highway NH 66 (17). If erosion increases these tons of rocks will disappear in the sea and then it might cause danger to the national highway.

 

 
In Malpe Padukare also the sea has become rough and high waves are hitting the shore. The sea is just 4 – 5 meters away from the fisheries road. Last year under the road about 10 meters deep erosion had taken place and broken the road. There is no surprise if that repeats this year also.

 
Upon hearing the news of the erosion at Udyavara Padukare, Member of Parliment D. V. Sadananda Gowda and other BJP leaders visited the place, they watched the huge rocks disappearing into the sea with the force of the waves and gave instructions to the Port department Officers to arrange to dump the rocks to 150 – 200 meter length shore within the next one week.

 
On this occasion local residents complained that, every year you arrange for dumping the rocks, but the erosion never gets solved, no one is concerned to have a permanent solution. Answering this Sadananda Gowda said that the central government is not releasing the money which is required for the permanent solution and turned the complaint towards the central government. The press reporters mentioned that the payment of about 1 crore rupees is pending to pay to the contractors, for this he said that the payment will be arranged this time.

 
On this occasion Jilla Panchayath President Katapdi Shankara Poojary, BJP District President Udayakumar Shetty, Secretary Thingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, Jagadish Bhatt of Port – Fishing Department were present.

 
In conclusion, the sea erosion is a never ending problem to the coastal districts. Every year peoples representatives visit the erosion spots and get publicity in news papers, contractors have their way to make money by dumping the rocks, Officers also benefit for their part. But no one is interested in the problems of people living in the sea shore who face difficulties with the loss of hundreds of coconut trees, houses, properties, fisheries roads. This is called the ‘tragedy’ of democracy!