Udupi Cityscapes, Projects

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Protecting a 2.5-km spectacular shoreline at Maravanthe

B. Gopal Naik, Superintending Engineer of PWD’s ADB-assisted projects, Mangaluru, told The Hindu that seashore conservation was necessary to protect the NH. While the government had invited tenders for the project at an estimated cost of Rs. 98 crore, a joint venture of Comcore-RDS Projects-Yojaka quoted the lowest, Rs. 86 crore, to bag the project.

The project involves construction of 24 groynes — 14 straight and 10 “T” shaped —along the 2.5-km beach-front between the southern breakwater of Maravanthe fishing harbour and Trasi with each groyne jutting into the sea for a distance of about 110 metres.

These groynes are expected to reduce the impact of waves and facilitate proper distribution of sand thereby preventing further erosion of the shoreline, Mr. Naik said. [A groyne is a low sturdy wall built into the sea from a beach to check erosion and drifting.]

While straight groynes are under construction, formation of “T” shape for 10 groynes would commence after the Monsoons, as the department has decided to go for 5 tonne tetrapod instead of the earlier 2.5 tonne ones.

This is to withstand increasing height of the sea-level due to global warming, Mr. Naik said.

Though the contractor is given time till 2020 to complete the project, the department is hopeful of achieving the target by May 2019, the Superintending Engineer said.

Sea erosion reported from Udyavar, Marvanthe

Padukere facing sea erosion

Raghupati Bhat lays foundation stone for breakwall works worth Rs 16 crore

Stonewall to protect NH from sea erosion at Byndoor