Udupi: Clearance for development urged on tourism day

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 28 September 2011: The Coastal Restraint Zone regulation implemented by the central government is too unscientific. With this regulation the places like Udupi which has the vast scope for the tourism Industry has been deprived from the opportunity, said Udupi MLA K. Ragupathi Bhat. He was speaking upon inaugurating the World Tourism Day celebrations jointly organized by the Tourism department and District Lions Club, on Tuesday.

 

 
The Coastal Restraint Zone regulation does not allow any development at the sea shore areas for the reason that the tsunami may come. But tsunami does not come everywhere, so there is no meaning to this regulation. This is the result of the decisions made by the officers sitting in the air-conditioned offices in Delhi. Therefore, the banned 500 meter range specified in the regulation has to be reduced to 200 meters, urged Raghupathi Bhat.
 
In the state, the earlier governments were granting annually rupees 15 crores budget only, but now the present government has reserved rupees 182 crore grant, so that, massive development has been done in the tourism Industry, in the state, said MLA. Among the coastal shores of the district, Malpe and St. Mary’s Island are the scenic places, so the state government has reserved special grant for the development of these places.
 
Jetties will be constructed both at Malpe and at St. Mary’s island, to go to St. Mary’s island, he said. Though the fund is already sanctioned, due to some technical reasons the work could not be started so far, he said. Among the popular historical buildings of the district Suralu Palace is in decrepit state. For the renovation of this building rupees 10 crore proposal was submitted and now rupees 1.6 crore grant has been received, he said.
 
Deputy Commissioner Dr. M.T. Reju presided over the function. Other guests and dignitaries present on the occasion were; Jilla Panchayath President Katapadi Shankara Poojary, Lions Governer Jayakara Shetty Indrali, Taluk Panchayath President Devadas Hebbar, Tourism Department Deputy Director M.R. Prakash, Lions District President M. Subrahmanya Hebbar, Entrepreneur Manohara S. Shetty, Nagaraj Hebbar and others.