Karnataka   

Master plan mooted for development of beaches

PANAJI: Concerned over the continued erosion of beaches, the Goa Government has mooted a proposal of formulating a master plan for sustained development of prime beaches.

It is reported that about 15 km of coastline in the State is severely affected by sea erosion at a few sites in taluks of Pernem, Bardez, Tiswadi, Canacona and Salcete.

Goa’s Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar told the State Assembly during the recently concluded budget session that stress on anti-erosion programme in his latest Budget was reflective of this thinking of the Government.

Mr. Narvekar told The Hindu last week that the management of the Asian Development Bank had approved a project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA) for preparing a sustainable coastal protection and management project in the States of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The Union Ministry of Water Resources had decided to implement the proposed PPTA project in those States as a State sector project and had sought concurrence of the State governments, he said. The project was under examination of the State Government, Mr. Narvekar said.

Knowing the seriousness of the problem in the State, the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) has also volunteered to provide financial assistance for such schemes in Goa.

It had already sanctioned Rs. 11.75 crore for the works, Mr. Narvekar said and added that the State Government had made a provision of Rs. 8.25 crore in the 2008-09 State budget for the works.

Mr. Narvekar admitted during a debate on budget that Calangute-Candolim coastal belt of north Goa contributed around 50 per cent of tourism revenue and agreed for a special thrust to preserve these beaches through a master plan.

On the recommendation of the Coastal Planning Development Advisory Committee, the officials of the Central Public Works Department had inspected the sites and suggested protective measures to mitigate beach erosion in Pernem and Salcete taluks, Mr. Narvekar said.

Accordingly, estimates had been prepared for a stretch of 1.6 km of coastline at Tiracol in Pernem, north Goa’s border taluk adjoining Maharashtra, costing Rs. 7.56 crore, he said.

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