Mangalore: Rovers and Rangers Move along Jagged Coastline on Trekking Expedition
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
Mangalore, March 3: The Rovers and Rangers coming from various states from across India have set forth on an expedition along the coastline of Karnataka as part of the national-level coastal trekking programme on Tuesday March 3. They started their onward journey from Tannirbavi after crossing the river from Sultan Battery in the city.
The rovers and rangers from Panjab, Haryana, Rajastan, Mizoram, West Bengal, Kerala, Western Railways and Southern Railways have come together for taking part in this trekking programme. The trekking is being organized to enable the participants to study the places through which they pass, conduct nature study, study marine life, survey villages and townships falling on their route, besides collecting marine specimens, creating drawings, taking photographs etc said I A Kairanna, district chief commissioner of Bharath Scouts and Guides.
The participants will tread along the coastline between the city and Kaup, which are located about 40 kms apart. On the way, they will get opportunities to learn a lot, he said.
The participants started their trekking programme by walking along the beach. On the way, they will also undertake cleaning operations in beaches as far as possible, by picking litters like plastics.
As the programme involves a three-day walk, they will stay in Suratkal at the end of the first day and continue walking the next day towards Hejamady. On the third day, they will walk to Kaup, their final destination. After that, they will come to Pilikula and celebrate by starting camp fire there.
The participants will cover 15 kilometers on the first day and 12 kilometers on each of the other two days, as the later two stretches of the terrain are a little hostile and difficult to tread, said Prathim Kumar, deputy leader of this trekking programme, adding that the expedition is an adventurous one. The leaders also have the responsibility of participants and taking care of adverse situations that might arise during the course of trekking.
Undertaking trekking is always good to gain experience. The participants of the trekking programme get a great experience and fun, while certain rules are also to be strictly followed to maintain discipline. “We can enjoy the experience a lot, but we have restrictions too,” said one of the trekkers.
M S Sharma, regional organizer of the trekking programme, Prabhakar Bhat, assistant organizer and beach development committee member Ravi besides fisheries department officer Suresh Kumar and Vasudeva Boloor, president of Fishermens’ Association were present at the time the trekking team was flagged off at Sultan Battery.
It is the fourth trekking expedition to be conducted in this coastline. The programme was undertaken here thrice at the national level and once at the district level, since the year 2003. Over 200 rovers and rangers are taking part in the trekking expedition.
The National Trekking Camp being organized under the aegis of Bharath Scouts and Guides was inaugurated in the city on Monday by Coastal Development Authority chairman Nagaraj Shetty. Scouts district commissioner I A Kairanna, coordinator M S Sharma, City Corporation joint commissioner M K Gadkar and others were present.