Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 28: Local MLA, Raghupati Bhat, who strongly felt that the tourism development in the region has suffered greatly because of unscientific conditions contained in Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules, demanded concessions towards reviving and revitalizing these sectors. He was speaking after inaugurating the World Tourism Day programme organized at Jagannath auditorium of Badagabettu Cooperative Society here. The programme was held under the aegis of the district administration, tourism department, and the local Lions Club on Tuesday September 27.

“As per the CRZ rues, no developmental activities can be conducted for a distance of 500 metres from the sea shore. As such, entrepreneurs are not coming forward to invest in tourism projects. Like in Kerala and Goa, concessions should be extended in CRZ rules in Karnataka. Restricted area should be limited to 200 metres, and the state government should be allowed to permit tourism development projects at the seashore. This will help development of beach tourism and provision of infrastructure at tourist spots,” Bhat opined.

Katapadi Shankar Poojary, president of the local zilla pacnahayat, who participated as the chief guest, wanted conservation and development of Barkur fort and Koti Chennaya Theme Park of Karkala to be brought in the ambit of tourism industry.

District deputy commissioner, Dr M T Reju, taluk panchayat president, Devadas Hebbar, Lions Club district president, Jayakar Shetty Indrali, and various entrepreneurs and green police activists were present.