Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 11: Mangroves have long been identified as saviours of ecology, as they stop soil erosion at river banks apart from providing green cover. However, in a strange case, mangroves on the banks of Kamini rivulet at Hejmady Padukare near Brahmasthana standing on government land have been cut down to facilitate a resort coming up in a private land in Muttalive area, alleged district director in the department of environment, T Balachandra. He said that some individuals, who have bought private land there, have encroached upon government land, apart from throwing Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms to winds.

Balachandra, who visited the spot and conducted investigation, noted that government-owned land by the side of the rivulet has become a prey of resort culture. As development activities in the area have been banned as per CRZ rules, the concerned have to necessarily obtain clearances from the state and central governments for their activities, he noted. He said he could not get any details about this activity from Hejmady gram panchayat, as the development officer of the panchayat had been deputed to some training. He plans to send detailed reports to the secretary in the environment department, district deputy commissioner and tahsildar, recommending suitable legal action against the concerned.

The spot inspection was conducted, after Kaup BJP Yuvamorcha secretary, Santosh Kumar, complained about the violations. It is learnt that a panchayat member had raised this issue at the general session of the panchayat, but she failed to get any concrete information.

Balachandra was accompanied by assistant director of the department, Ganesh, environmentalist, Premanand Kalmadi, and a couple of others during the visit.