Five beaches in DK district to wear new improved looks

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, oct 29, 2014 :  Dakshina Kannada  is soon to wear  new improved looks  and sport  state-of-the-art  facilities for tourists visiting this attractive coastal district. Following the Central government sanctioning funds for the infrastructure development of beaches in Karnataka and promote beach tourism, five of the 11 beaches identified for the purpose, will be developed in the first phase.

The work on beach development entrusted to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) is likely to start by November 15 and the beaches will be transformed by next March ’15, if all goes according to plans. In a review meeting of beach tourism development at the deputy commissioner’s office on October 28, Tuesday, KRIDL Superintendent Engineer T S Kaladagi said that of Rs 50 crore sanctioned to the State for developing beaches, five beaches in DK will be improved at a cost of Rs 13.72 crore. The beaches to be developed under the project are: Someshwar, Ullal, Surathkal, Talapady and Sultan Battery. The work will be taken up with available government land near the beach in accordance with CRZ regulations.

Under the project, various facilities will be provided on the beachs including pedestrian seating, landscape walkway, High Mast lighting, life guards and watch tower, waste management, parking facilities, provision of signage, food kiosks, rescue boats etc. Apart from these facilities, approach roads to the beachs too will be developed for the public convenience, said Snehroz Deore representing Darashaw consultancy which has designed the project plan.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Tulasi Maddineni, who is also the member of District Beach Tourism Development Committee pointed at several drawbacks in the plan which were addressed in a report submitted by the committee recently. She said that parking space allotted in the plan is insufficient considering the large number of tourists who visit these beaches.  She stated that  the basic idea was to develop Ullal beach as a beach providing family entertainment, Surathkal for tourists, Talapady for nature lovers and Sultan Batteri for local population. An open amphitheater could be developed in Someshwar and  also suggested to purchase beach cleaning machines which is more scientific way of maintaining cleanliness, than installing dustbins.

Beach Project CEO Yathish Baikampady insisted on putting in place a rescue boat and a jet ski for every beach for rescuing drowning tourists.   Chairing the meeting, DK DC  A B Ibrahim set a six months time frame for completing the work. He also directed KRIDL officials to contract an agency to maintain the beaches after the completion of the work.