Sea erosion intensifies in Ullal, Ucchila; many houses in danger

Mangaluru/Udupi, Jun 28: With heavy rains lashing coastal Karnataka relentlessly for past few days, many areas in Mangaluru and Udupi are witnessing heightened erosion along the coast.

Mogaveerapatna, Kaiko, Kotepura, Hileriyanagara, Subhashnagara and Someshawara in Ullal region of Dakshina Kannada district and Ucchila, Tenka Yermal, Malpe, Kundapur, Bengre and Madhwanagar in Udupi district have seen increased erosion activity this week.

As the stones and boulders dumped to check sea erosion are being swallowed by huge sea waves, nearly two dozen houses are facing the threat in Ullal region.

A house belonging to Aboobakar has been damaged at Kotepura on Monday. Ullal CMC President Husain Kunhimonu has visited the spot.

The coconut trees and a few houses are facing the threat of destruction. A few trees were already washed away in the sea waves in Kotepura and Mogaveerapatna.

In Udupi's Ucchila, three houses are facing threat of being washed away in the waves. Waves have started hitting the houses of Vasanth, Yamuna, and Chandrashekar in Ucchila. The inmates of these houses have been shifted to safer areas in New Ucchila.

A portion of Chandrashekar's house was washed away last year too. Over 20 coconut trees have already been washed away. “When strong waves started hitting my house two years ago, I had appealed to the authorities to dump boulders to check erosion, however, none helped me,” said 78-year-old Yamuna.

UT Khader intervenes

Meanwhile, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader, who represents Mangaluru (Ullal) constituency in the Legislative Assembly, has directed the officials to take up temporary measures to check sea erosion in Ullal area.

The minister informed media persons that he has already spoken to Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and engineers to take up the work. “I have also appraised PWD Minister Mahadevappa on the intensity of sea erosion in Ullal,” he said.