Karnataka - Mangalore   

Govt. urged to take measures to end sea erosion

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JULY 6. Members of Sea Erosion Action Committee, Ullal, staged a dharna in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner here on Tuesday to urge the Government to take up a project to end sea-erosion at Ullal.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, the committee members urged the Government to reserve enough funds in 2004-05 Budget for such a project and take up work this year.

They urged the Government to drop a proposal to shift families living on the coast and rehabilitate them in other places. These families depended on fishing and fisheries activities for livelihood. The Government should construct at least three breakwaters in Ullal immediately to prevent sea erosion.

They urged the Government to take up works on a "Jetty" manufacturing unit (fishing boat manufacturing unit) at Ullal. A foundation stone for the same was laid in 1969. But work had not been started even after 35 years. The members said that the Government authorities had been dumping sand bags and rocks at erosion place to prevent erosion temporarily. These bags and rocks submerged in water every year. Thus the fund spent on the same was wasted. The Government should review its expenditure incurred on the same.

The committee president, Sadananda Bangera, said that Ullal had been affected by sea erosion for 18 years. About 900 metres of land had been submerged and 200 structures, including houses, fish storage and oil units, boat manufacturing units and houses, had been destroyed. About 50 houses now faced threat of submersion.

He said the then Minister of State for Ports and Fisheries, Vasanth V. Salian, promised in 2003 that "stebi plage" technology from France would be used to find a permanent solution to the problem. The State Government had reserved Rs. 10 crore for taking up the project on an experimental basis. But the money had been diverted.

U.K. Ibrahim, committee president, and Dinakar Ullal, general secretary, were participated in the dharna.

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