Udupi district administration plans to organise Surfing festival

Udupi district administration plans to organise Surfing festival

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi: September 20, 2015: The district administration is planning to hold a surfing festival in one of the beaches of Udupi district.

 

R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, told sources that the surfing festival might be held in one of the beaches in the district such as Malpe, Kaup or Marvanthe. The location was yet to be finalised. The objective is to give a boost to water sports and also attract people to the pristine beaches in the district.

Assistant Commissioner of Kundapur Sub-Division Charulata Somal had also been asked to look into this matter and hold talks with a surfing unit based near Mulky in Dakshina Kannada district.

The feedback of the surfing unit would have to be taken into consideration before holding the fest. The administration had given the maintenance and development of Kaup beach to one developer, while the development of the Malpe beach, St. Mary’s Island and Marvanthe beach had been entrusted to another developer after floating tenders. The views of these developers too would be taken into account.

“We are thinking of holding the festival either in October or November. It will depend on the condition of waves,” he said. “We are also thinking of promoting scuba diving and other such water sports,” he added.

Malpe Beach

Besides this, the Malpe Development Committee has upgraded facilities at the Malpe beach here. Already a Watch and Ward Tower has come up at the beach.

CCTV cameras had been installed at vital locations at the beach. A toilet complex had been constructed at the Southern side of the beach. Inter-lock tiles had been installed to create more parking facilities for tourist vehicles. A drainage system with a new feeder line had been constructed at the beach.

St. Mary’s Island

Although the tourist jetty had been constructed for ferrying passengers from Malpe beach to St. Mary’s Island, the jetty lacked sitting facility for passengers and other basic amenities. “We have submitted a proposal for provision of these amenities to the Udupi Urban Development Authority (UUDA). It is likely to cost over Rs. 20 lakh,” he said.

A walking track and a toilet complex would be built, and seats would be installed at the St. Mary’s Island, about 6.5 km from Malpe beach. The improvement of facilities is likely to increase footfalls at the island.

The administration had submitted a proposal to the Tourism Department to purchase a modern beach cleaner machine at a cost of Rs. 75 lakh. “It will pick up dirt, sea weeds and silt. It will keep the beach spick and span,” Dr. Vishal said.


The dates of the festival will depend on the condition of the waves.