Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Sep 5: Tourism has opportunities in plenty in the coastal area of Karnataka. However, successive state governments have not tapped this potential to its full extent. Now under the Sagar Mala project approval has been given for improving water transport. This will turn Udupi into a major tourist centre in the state.

A blueprint is getting ready to develop the water transport from Hangarakatte to Manipal under the Sagar Mala project of the union government. Under this project, a system will be developed to make boats move smoothly from Bengre, Kemmanu, and Kallianpur through Hangarakatte estuarine till Manipal. Only one or two boat houses are running at present in the Bengre and Kemmanu areas. Silt removal will be done as part of the first phase improvement programme under the Sagar Mala project.

As the Hangarakatte-Manipal waterway mostly passes through Swarna river, boats can arrive from Hangarakatte to Kallianpur via Bengre and Kemmanu. However, movement from Kallianpur to Manipal will be slightly difficult as a vented dam is built at Kallianpur.

The vented dam of Kallianpur might be a hurdle in the full fledged development of the water route from Hangarakatte to Manipal. So during the first phase the development will be done from Hangarakatte to Kallianpur vented dam.

Provision will also be made for boats to anchor them at specific points. In future, after the waterway is completely developed, fishing boats and commercial boats will also be allowed.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who had been to Delhi recently, had reportedly discussed the development of Hangarakatte-Manipal waterway. So a tentative approval has been given for the same. In the first phase, Rs 25 crore worth of work will be taken up.