UDUPI: Tourism Minister and district in charge D.T. Jayakumar said here on Monday that the State Government has submitted a proposal seeking Rs. 611 crores for the development of tourism in the State.

Addressing presspersons at the Kanaka Mantap in the Sri Krishna Temple here, Mr. Jayakumar said the proposal includes the development of beaches from Karwar to Mangalore. Priority will be given to the development of Malpe beach in association with the Department of Tourism.

Besides Malpe, the Karwar beach, the Om beach near Gokarna (both in Uttara Kannada district), the Marvanthe beach (Udupi district) and the Panambur beach (Dakshina Kannada district) will be also be developed into tourist spots, he added.

CRZ norms

The development of beaches in the State has suffered owing to the implementation of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms, he noted.

But interestingly, these norms have posed no problems to the development of beaches in either Kerala or Goa.

Concession

Hence, the State Government has submitted a proposal to the Centre to give concession from CRZ norms to promote beach tourism in Karnataka, he said. The Union Government is expected to approve this request.

Cottages, a resort and a swimming pool will be constructed in 7.5 acres of land belonging to the Department of Tourism at Marvanthe, Mr. Jayakumar said. Tenders will be invited for this purpose.

With regard to the complaints pertaining to the construction of musical fountains at Malpe and Marvanthe beaches, the Minister said the contractor has been asked to reconstruct the fountains according to specifications provided by the Government.

A sum of Rs. 45 lakhs had been allotted for the construction of the fountains at Malpe and Marvanthe.

Boathouses

To give a fillip to beach tourism, three boathouses will be introduced on an experimental basis at Devbagh in Uttara Kannada district. Looking at the response, they will be introduced in Malpe, Marvanthe and Panambur, he added.

Dams

Major dams in the State will be developed into tourist spots, he said. Gardens will be built at these dams based on the KRS in Mysore.

Importance will be given to Hampi Utsava and Rani Abbakka Utsava and they will be promoted in a big way.

Museums will be built in the memory of important persons, Mr. Jayakumar said.

K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA; V.S. Acharya, MLC; and Janata Dal (Secular) district unit spokesperson Nagaraj Hebbar were present.

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