Stop dumping boulders into sea; give us new houses: Residents tell UT Khader

Mangaluru, Jul 1: A few residents of Uchila, Ullal and Kotepura villages of Mangaluru taluk whose houses have been affected by the sea erosion urged the Food and civil supplies minister U T Khader to provide them new houses in a different location instead of spending huge amount of money to dump boulders into the sea every year.

When Mr Khader, who is also the local MLA, paid a visit to erosion prone areas on Thursday, the residents poured out their woes and urged him to take necessary steps to solve their problems permanently.

Out of nearly 40 houses on the three km stretch of coast in Someshwar gram panchayat in Ullal, six have been damaged due to sea erosion during this monsoon. Similarly, several houses between Uchila and Kotepura in Mangaluru, the constituency minister represents, have been damaged.

"Give us house at any place away from the shore or protect our property with permanent solution against sea erosion," said Vishwanath Uchila, a resident in Uchila village of Someshwar gram panchayat. Vishwanath's house was partially damaged due to the rough sea waves on Wednesday.

Every year, the government spends crores of rupees to dump boulders promising protection from sea erosion. Let the government provide us land and compensation. We are ready to move from here," said Vishwanath, who suggested dumping boulders is a huge waste of public money.

Mr Khader promised that funds will be sanctioned for immediate relief measures for the residents whose houses have been damaged.

Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said that a proposal of Rs 5 crore will be sent to the government for temporary mesures.

On Asian Development Bank project under the sustainable coastal protection and management investment programme, the minister said that a proposal of Rs 16 crore to find a permanent solution for sea erosion in Someshwar village is awaiting ADB nod. Tenders will be invited soon after the project is approved, he added.