The lacunae in the proposal to develop five beaches in the district, prepared by Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) at a cost of Rs. 13.72 crore, have come to the fore here.
During a meeting held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday, officials and activists expressed their reservations over certain aspects of the proposal. The KRIDL was asked not to stick to facilities proposed by the Union government but make changes to meet the requirements at Surathkal, Someshwara, Ullal, Talapady and Tannirbhavi beaches.
Chief executive officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Thulasi Maddineni, who heads the District Beach Development Committee, said there was no need to provide 24 dustbins at Ullal, Surathkal, Talapady and Sultan Battery beaches.
“What we need here is a machine that clears garbage on the beach,” she said, adding that a clean beach attracted more people.
She was surprised that the KRIDL had not gone through the report of the District Committee given to the Tourism Department in which the estimated cost for facilities required at each of the five places had been worked out.
Yatish Baikampady of Panambur Beach Development Project, a private initiative, said there was no point in providing two rescue boats that have proved to be of very little help in quick rescue.
The KRIDL, instead, should provide jet skis that were effective in rescue operations, he said, pointing out that many successful rescue operations at Panambur beach were conducted using them.
He said the KRIDL should make changes to the proposals from standard requirements to suit the beaches in Mangalore. “There is not point in having a meeting if changes are not to be incorporated,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K.V. Jageesh questioned the effectiveness of having two high-mast lamps at the five places. “This hardly covers distance of 25 metres. But you have benches on a long stretch where illumination is required,” he said. Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said instead of high-mast lamps, the KRIDL should install flood lights.
Mr. Ibrahim directed the KRIDL officials to accommodate the suggestions made in the proposals.
KRIDL Superintending Engineer T.S. Kaladagi said they would prepare revised estimates incorporating suggestions by the Tourism Development Committee (TDC). He said the KRIDL would start the work in Mangalore by the last week of November and finish it by March next year. Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said the TDC would monitor the beach development project.
