Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Oct 26: With the increase in the inflow of water into Kamini rivulet because of heavy rainfall, the sea has turned choppy and the river has breached the blue flag beach project area at Padubidri. The blue flag beach project area is being developed at a cost of eight crore rupees and facilities like construction of walk ways, changing rooms, toilets etc. At present, foundations have been laid for them, and now they are covered by sand.

With the river water at the estuary slicing the area into two and flowing through the middle of the blue flag beach, the water reaches sea near the water tank connected with the proposed toilet. About a km of beach has now been swallowed out of the proposed project.

The department had served notices to the concerned, asking them to obtain permissions as per Coastal Regulatory Zone Act as the project falls into that zone. The contractors had obtained permissions and begun work. Officer of Udupi District Coastal Regulatory Zone, Prasanna Patagar, said that a sum of Rs 2.68 crore has so far been allotted for the beach area and because of natural calamity, 6,000 sq feet area has been lost. Deputy director of tourism in the district, Chandrashekhar Naik, is hopeful that the area that has been claimed by surging water can be reclaimed.