Mangalore: Slipping Boulders Raise Concerns of Erosion Along Ullal Seashore
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Jun 7: The residents near Ullal seashore are living in fear of the sea erosion due to the slipping of the stones stacked in an effort to control the high tides which cause such erosion.
Two days of strong rainfall is giving tense moments to the people of Mukkacheri, Kotepura, and Mogaveerapatna. They are hoping for a permanent solution to the issue soon.
This problem which has existed for three decades has been dealt with by the district administration by dumping boulders along the sea shore.
“The sea erosion will not stop unless a permanent solution is found other than putting stones by the sea shore”, said Mohammad, a senior citizen and a resident of Mukkacheri. He says this is a perennial problem for the past thirty years as the high tides during the monsoon increase the water level in the sea.
A woman from the fishermen community said, “When the rain starts we see the politicians and other officials visiting the area. But we do not know if they come here with genuine concern or to enjoy the tricke played by the sea”.
Ummer, a resident of Mukkacheri adds, “The statements by the politicians have lost their luster. Each minister who visited the spot had promised a permanent solution but only the stacking of large stones has been done”.
Most of the residents say that the power of the tides cannot be diminished by loose boulders. A strong wall built to be technically strong in controlling the tides will only be helpful in setting the minds of the residents here at peace.
The proposal sent by the district administration to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has not been cleared yet.
The proposal is to construct a blockade along the sea shore, estimated at Rs 291 crore. As per the port officers, the draft which is an ideal one but the clearance from the ADB is the only way to secure financial aid.
“The sea erosion will be in lesser compared to what it was earlier, due to the boulders dumped here”, said an elderly person hoping that the slipping down of the boulders would stop soon.