Rs. 10.42 crore allotted for Malpe beach development

Rs. 10.42 crore allotted for Malpe beach development

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 22, 2016: It is reported that, speaking after inaugurating a beach cleaning machine worth Rs 75 lakh released from the state government,the Udupi District In-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said Rs 10.42 crore has been allotted by the state government to develop Malpe beach.

The minister said the fund released covers various development programmes and also the temporary sea walls built in shore to prevent sea erosion. Besides, two beaches in the coastal Karnataka have been selected to take up water sports initiatives and Rs 1 crore has been released for Malpe and Murudeshwar to introduce water sports.

He said 15 huts would be put across the beach to enhance the beauty and comfort level at the shore. The minister said the waiting lounge would be built at St Mary’s Island, besides a jetty adjoining the island at a cost of Rs 3 crore. He said a welcome arch would be built at the entrance of the sea shore in Malpe. The parking area has been widened and developed.

He said jet-ski would be pressed into service and added that national-level swimming completion would be held in Malpe in the month of December. Madhwaraj said the jurisdiction of the Malpe Development Committee has been expanded and it covers Padukere and Hanumanthanagar. The cement chairs would be put at sea side in Hanumanthanagar, he added.

Elaborating on the beach cleaning machine, the minister noted that the facility to clean the beach is first of its kind in Karnataka and next only to Mumbai in India.

The minister said that beach cleaning machine works by collecting sand by way of a scoop or drag mechanism and then raking or sifting anything large enough to be considered foreign matter, including sticks, stones, syringes, seaweeds, algae and other items. The machine effectively removes even the smallest materials like cigarette butts, pop tops, straws, plastics small shells, glass etc. It would help in reducing the bacterial level in beach sand which is caused by the natural debris and animal waste which saves marine life and prevents the illness. The machine removes only the unwanted debris and not the sand which helps in creating a clean, beautiful and safe beach for the visitors, said the minister.

The machine has the capability of cleaning 20 acres per day. It has a low ground pressure and is eco-friendly and does not harm or affect the environment.

It works in both wet and dry land and can be used in water till a depth of nine inch. The beach cleaner offers high-quality products that are equipped with the patented raking, screening and mixing technology. It works on three modes comprising raking technique (Surface cleaning only on wet sand/dry sand on hard ground), screening technique (for wet and dry sand in depth cleaning) and both combined raking and screening techniques. It is corrosion resistant and has maintenance-free bearings, switch-over valve, special stone shaft, eccentric shafts, mesh in different sizes, hydraulic lifting mechanism, four wheel drive and heavy capacity engine. It is expected that the equipment will go a long way to keep the beach clean.