Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 12: Since the last some months, intensive sea erosion is being witnessed near the estuary of the beach at Sasihithlu Munda beach area. A shop premises built by the panchayat that has been battered on account of river erosion has fallen to the ground.

After Munda beach at Sasihithlu drew world-wide attention because of surfing, the panchayat beach development committee undertook various measures and implemented projects to improve basic facilities. One of the projects was the construction of a building that houses three shops. These shops had come in handy for the tourists.

This is the spot where rivers Shambhavi and Nandini merge. After river erosion began happening in the area, huge casuarina trees, benches erected by the panchayat, shelter for tourists, and electric poles were razed to the ground since the last some months. Now the new addition to this list is the shop premises, which was built approximately at a cost five lac rupees.

The panchayat is worried at the prospects of losing the remaining two shop premises, public toilet, and area of the beach used by tourists, within a short period of time if the erosion continues.

Dredging on a large scale conducted in River Nandini by the side of the jetty built by the side of this beach, and non-removal of sediment from under the Pavanje bridge on national highway are blamed for this problem. While flow in River Shambhavi has gained momentum, flow of water in River Nandini has been blocked. This is the reason behind the river erosion witnessed here, the local fishermen believe.