Mangaluru, Sep 14: Despite the existence of two high-mast lamps installed on either side of Someshwar Beach, tourists who arrive to savour the experience of the beach are mostly left disappointed as the lamps are not in working condition leaving the place in darkness after dusk.
The beach is a popular tourist spot located on the outskirts of the city, where locals and tourists frequent the place. However, the lamps which are not functioning from the past six months poses a problem to the visitors as the place is rendered dark without the bright lamps after sunset each day. Not only are the visitors unable to linger on the beach after sunset due to poor visibility, but also because of unwanted miscreants loitering around the area.
The reason that the lamps have remained without functioning is due to the fact that the power supply has been shut down since the electricity bill has not been paid by the concerned beach development authority to the local gram panchayat. According to the panchayat, the electricity has reached upto Rs 1 lakh and due to non-payment of the bill, the power supply to the high-mast lamps has been cut off.
Hence, until the electricity bill is rendered in full, the power supply will not be restored and the beach will continue to remain in shrouded in darkness after dusk.
As a result of the lamps not remaining operational, the absence of light has resulted in unnecessary activities such as consumption of alcohol and illegal activities. The beach development authority employees opine that most of the activities would stop once the power is restored to the lamps.
Locals urge for solar lamps
Since the high-mast lamps have remained non-functional, the local gram panchayat members have urged in the recent meetings held by the panchayat to install solar lamps instead of electric ones, to reduce the costs incurred.
The locals have also urged the beach development authority to deploy solar-powered lamps for the convenience of tourists.
A local villager Dinesh Someshwar said that hundreds of visitors frequent the beach every day for ‘Darshana’ at the Someshwara temple, to jog along the seashore or simply to view the entirety of the beach to unwind in the evening. In such a situation, it is a dampening for both locals and tourists to return from the beach at a early hour without viewing the sunset. Moreover, it is also dangerous in the evenings to keep a track of those venturing into the beach, despite the existence of lifeguards. Hence, swift arrangements must be made to enable the lamps at the beach, he said.
High-mast lamps non-functional at Beeri junction too
The high-mast lamps that had been installed at Kotekar-Beeri junction on NH 66 have also become non-functional from the past month. Since it is a prominent junction on the national highway, the lack of high-powered lamps pose a considerable risk for vehicles negotiating the junction. There is a need to restore the lamps on a serious note to avoid possible mishaps along the route, say local residents.
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