Protection work begins on Arattu Kalmandapam
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The Rs 35 lakh funding for this interim measure comes from the MLA fund of legislator Antony Raju, recently cleared by the district collector's administrative sanction.
The geobag installation marks Phase I of coastal safeguarding efforts, but the comprehensive beach protection project, such as offshore geotubes, groynes, diaphragm walls, or sand nourishment, will proceed only after formal state govt approval.
An irrigation department official overseeing the implementation said: "We expect the geobag solution around the kalmandapam to stabilize the immediate structure while we await state-level clearance for the full coastal defence plan." The official added that geobags provide an eco-friendly and minimally intrusive temporary safeguard without disturbing fishing activities or the beach's aesthetics. It is expected to be completed within two months based on the weather conditions," the official said.
At a high-level meeting chaired by Raju, experts from National Centre for Coastal Research, including M V Ramana Murthy, reviewed multiple protection strategies. Among them was proposal to lay geotubes approximately 200m offshore at 6m-depth, along a 1.5km stretch, supplemented by extensive sand nourishment.
While the initial offshore breakwater plan backed by Asian Development Bank remains stalled due to design revisions and financial constraints, geotubes are emerging as a preferred alternative that balances coastal preservation with tourism and cultural significance.
Shanghumugham beach, known as the sacred Arattukadavu where temple idols are submerged during festivals, experienced severe erosion, losing nearly 4.7m of land annually, endangering the Arattu kalmandapam.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dasara elephants arrive in Mysuru, set tone for festivities
Mysuru: Mysuru Dasara zing is back with the arrival of caparisoned elephants on Monday. Nine Dasara elephants, led by Howdah elephant Abhimanyu, arrived in Mysuru city late on Monday after they received a traditional welcome at Veeranahosahalli, Hunsur, earlier in the day. The arrival of elephants has set the festival tone. The first batch of nine elephants includes Abhimanyu, Bheema, and Ekalavya from Mattigodu Elephant Camp of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve; Mahendra and Lakshmi from Balle Camp of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve; and Prashantha, Dhananjaya, Kanjan, and Kaveri from Dubare of Madikeri Wildlife Division. The second batch of five other elephants, Srikanta, Roopa, Hemavathi, three new elephants, and Sugreeva and Gopi, will arrive early next month. All nine elephants arrived at Aranya Bhavana, the forest department headquarters in Mysuru, after travelling 70 km from the forest. Foresters have selected 14 elephants for the Dasara celebration, which commences on Sept 22 and concludes with a grand procession on Oct 2. For the first time, the crowd came in large numbers for the Gajapayana, the journey of elephants from the woods to the city to take part in the festival. Mahadev, who witnessed the grand event Gajapayana for the last decade, said, "Usually the event was held before 10am, but this year it was organised at 12 noon. This provided ample time for people to witness the event. As thousands of people turned up for the event, police had a tough time controlling the crowd." On the occasion, a booklet containing details of elephants was released along with posters of the festival. Minister urges for protection of wildlife While we admire wildlife on safaris and marvel at the grandeur of caparisoned elephants during the Dasara procession, we must also shoulder the responsibility of protecting them, said minister for forest, zoology, and environment Eshwar Khandre. Speaking at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk after performing a traditional welcome for the first batch of nine elephants participating in this year's Dasara festivities, Khandre expressed concern over rising wildlife deaths. He cited incidents involving electrocution from illegal fencing, snaring of leopards, and recent poisoning cases in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. "Every creature born on Earth has the right to live. We have encroached upon their habitats—it is our duty to protect them, not kill them," he said. He also highlighted issues caused by cattle from neighbouring states grazing in Karnataka forests, depriving wild animals of food. He confirmed that steps are being taken to curb cross-border grazing. To reduce human-wildlife conflict, especially with elephants, Khandre said the govt has accelerated the installation of protective measures. Since taking office, 115 km of railway barricades have been constructed, with another 193 km approved. "Within two years, the remaining areas will be covered at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore," he stated. Khandre called for proper maintenance of solar fences, tentacle fencing, and elephant trenches, and reiterated that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. He also assured that the rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities would be respected, adding, "A joint survey has been ordered to protect those residing or cultivating land within forests, particularly those with land rights before 2015. " Arjuna award for caring elephants Forest minister Khandre on Monday presented the first Arjuna Award, established in memory of the famed Dasara elephant, to mahout Gunda and Kavadi Nanjundaswamy of elephant Bhima. Each received Rs 10,000 and a certificate. The award has been instituted to recognise outstanding mahouts, kavadis, and forest staff for excellence in elephant capture and wildlife management. A committee will select awardees annually, with presentations held during Gajapayana. Minister for sericulture and animal husbandry K Venkatesh, MLAs Harish Gowda, Tanveer Sait, and Ravishankar, Forest Development Board president Marigowda, and principal chief conservator of forests Meenakshi Negi were present.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Pune: One dead, three injured as debris falls on labourers near Nanded City township
One worker died and three were injured on Monday after debris fell on them as they undertook Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) related drainage work in a trench near Nanded City township. After receiving information, teams of the Pune Fire Brigade and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) rushed to the spot around 6 pm. Firemen started the rescue operation immediately. 'The workers were buried under the mud in a trench about 20 feet deep a trench. We rescued three workers safely and they were taken to a hospital for treatment,' said fire officer Prashant Gaikar. 'Three people have been shifted to Nanded multi-specialty hospital. A fourth person unfortunately died, a doctor has confirmed,' said additional municipal commissioner Prithviraj B P. The rescue operation went on for over two hours. Prithviraj B P said the work was related to on ongoing project being implemented through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funds. 'We will investigate the incident,' he said. He added that the JICA project follows strict safety standards, so the PMC will find out the exact cause of the incident. The River Improvement project, also known as JICA project, involves the construction of 11 new sewage treatment plants and laying drainage new lines to ensure that no untreated sewage is released in Mula and Mutha river. The project's implementation had been delayed for a long time and failed to its completion deadline of March 2025. The delay had been due to technical issues but it got back on track. The project cost increased from Rs 990 crore to Rs 1,173 crore ,with an additional Rs 250 crore for its operation and maintenance for the next 15 years. Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read More
Deccan Herald
8 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Gajapayana 2025: First 'Arjuna' award worth Rs 10,000 presented to caretakers of Dasara elephant 'Bheema'
He mentioned that the award comprises a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each along with certificates of appreciation for both the mahout and kavadi.
