Mangalore: Blueprint for Permanent Solution to Sea Erosion Ready—Palemar
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Jul 5: After visiting the areas in Ullal affected by sea erosion on Sunday July 5, the minister for ports, inland water transportation, environment and ecology, Krishna J Palemar said that his department had prepared a blueprint for a permanent solution to sea erosion along the coastal stretch under the National Coastal Protection Project (NCCP) of 2010-2018.
Speaking to the media, Palemar added, “A pilot project has been prepared by the National Coastal Protection Project (NCCP) for the year 2010-2018 for the coastal line along the country and the work will be started after the blueprint is cleared by the technical expert committee. The department of ports will submit a blueprint for the Rs 280 crore project on July 10”.
Talking about the blueprint, Palemar said, “It involves the installation of a geo-textile tube to prevent erosion which will be a lasting solution to the problem of erosion. Eighty percent of the cost for the project will be borne by the Asian Development Bank scheme with the rest being met by the state government. About Rs 216 crore will be spent on Ullal area alone.”
“The NCCP is for coastal stretches in Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, so if the other states delay in preparing blueprints it might be problematic to our state”, he added.
Palemar said that the temporary solution was estimated at Rs 1.7 crore with the cost likely to increase during the rainy season and the state government will release Rs 3 crore for temporary relief in Ullal.
“There are 22 houses in Ullal which face the threat of sea erosion”, he said adding, “the actual cost has not been estimated yet and the department of ports will work out the statistics.
Meanwhile, MLA U T Khader urged the minister that temporary measures to prevent sea erosion be implemented immediately along three stretches on the Ullal coast.
He said that erosion was severe at Kotepura, Mogaveerapatna, and Hilary Nagara. The boulders dumped at these places had already sunk, so these areas need immediate attention.
Palemar also visited Mukkacheri, Hilary Nagar, Kaika Road, Kotepura, Mogaveerapatna and other coastal areas in Ullal along with assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalakatti, former MLA Jayaram Shetty and other officials.