Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Apr 3: "Floating restaurant will be started at the Blue Flag beach here at Padubidri. Already 49 locals are employed at the beach. In another two years, priority will be given to necessary activities in order to increase the strength of employees to 100," said deputy commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha.

Jagadeesha inaugurated the food court and Kayaking facility that has begun on Blue Flag beach at Padubidri on Sunday.

Jagadeesha further said, "Several activities are being initiated on the Blue Flag beach in order to provide employment to personnel who were maintaining the beach. Already kayaking facilities have started. In the coming days, more Kayaking will be joined for sports and activities. So far around five pairs of foreign tourists have visited the beach and have expressed good opinion about the facilities.

"On the old beach suitable infrastructure should be developed and maintenance of the same should be given to locals. Old washrooms should be properly maintained,” he said.

DC Jagadeesha took to task officials of the tourism department for delay in building washrooms. He questioned the official and said, "How much time is required to build a small washroom? Are they building Vidhana Soudha?"

The DC also said that action will be taken to resolve issues of parking on Karkala road and construction of Padubidri bus stand after discussing the same with PWD and NHAI officials. He also said that spot inspection will be done along with MLA in order to clear the chaos that is prevailing in the construction of solid waste management units.

ZP member Shashikanatha Padubidri, TP member Neeta Gururaj, GP president Ravi Shetty, vice president Yashoda, members Sujatha Acharya, Vidyashree, Ganesh Kotian, assistant director of tourism department Somashekhar, nodal officer of Padubidri beach Dr Chandrashekhar Nayak, president of association of coastal tourism Manohar Shetty, Gaurav Shenava, manager of Blue flag beach Vijaya Shetty, assistant director of fisheries department Ganesh and assistant director of animal husbandry department Dr Harish were present.

Regarding toll issues, the DC said, "District administration has very little role in toll matters. MP has called the toll contractors and held a meeting with them and has taken action to extend the toll relaxation limit to around five km in Sastan toll gate. The protest committee had submitted a demand to provide relaxation till Padubidri ZP limits. The MP is going to arrive in the district after the parliament session. Then this issue will be resolved after holding discussion with the MP."

"We have placed a demand of Rs six crore grant with the government. It is in the approval stage now. A plan will be formed to resolve issues of connecting road and parking using this grant. Protecting wall work for the river, at a cost of Rs 50 lac, will start soon. Plan is made to handover Old beach to locals for maintenance," said DC Jagadeesha.