Kaup: Lack of facilities disappoint tourists

By Prakash Katpadi
Pics by Roopam Studio, Kaup
Bellevision Media Network

Kaup 11 April 2012: Kaup beach which is most popular in the district and attracts tourists everyday has dried up due to lack of basic facilities. Since the tourism department or the administration are not attending any of the problems of the long sea shore, the tourists visiting in their summer holidays are disappointed.

 
Even though rupees 55 lakhs amount was sanctioned 4 years ago from the tourism department for the development of this beautiful beach of Kaup, so far only toilets have been constructed. In between there was proposal for the construction of bridge between the remains of Tipu Sultan fort rock and light house rock to attract tourists. But though there is lot of scope for the development of tourism, no changes have taken place.

 
Even the tourism minister visited this place and assured on a project worth 1 crore rupees, but nothing has materialized. The department is not willing to spend the amount which is sanctioned for the development, complain the nature lovers. With the private joint venture attractive boating facility is available, but the required basic facilities are not there.

 

Attractive light house in the beautiful Kaup beach
 

Natural backwaters at the west side of the light house to create boating facilities

 

The rock having the remains of the Tipu Sultan fort

 

 
The 35 meter high Kaup light house not only shows the way to the boats which are approaching the shore, but it also attracts the tourists who visit there. Years ago a beautiful beach is naturally formed around the light house rock, but no proper access has been provided so far. To reach to this beautiful Kaup beach people have to go by the narrow path which passes through private properties.

 
Also as the Bars and Restaurants are at the side of this path it is uncomfortable for the tourists to pass through this path. There are no seating facilities in this beach which has thousands of visitors every day. In rainy season the situation is still worse as there is no shelter provided here to protect from the rain or sun. When it is sunset the visitors will have to go off quickly as there is no proper lighting system in that place.

 
The nature lovers are unhappy that the tourism department has no interest in making this place into a tourism spot for all seasons. The effort has to be done by the people’s representatives in arranging a proper access to this place. The public desire that the lighting system, parking, seating arrangements, boating facilities at the rear side of the light house and other fecilities be done very soon.

 
The Kaup development committee which has submitted petitions before is now keeping quiet, so the beach development work has slowed down. But to attract more visitors to this place providing the facilities is essential. Kaup MLA Lalaji R. Mendon has said that the proposal of making this as an tourist centre, has been discussed in Sadana. Security arrangement and life guard team arrangements will be done, he said.

 
Already rupees 55 lakhs have been sanctioned from the tourism department and a proposal for additional 1 crore rupees to make this into a all season tourism spot, has been submitted to the government. A separate road for Kaup beach, new bridge at the backwaters and other works have been planned. More grants are expected from the government and the development work will start very soon, says Kaup MLA Lalaji R. Mendon.