UDUPI: The
department of tourism, in a move to ensure safety of tourists going to
St Marys Island, has decided to construct a floating jetty in the sea, Priyanka Mary Francis, DC said here on Tuesday.
The jetty will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.26 crore, the DC, chairing the tourism development committee, said. At present, tourists going to the island have to disembark from larger boats that ferry them on to smaller boats some 150 metre from the shore.
Such a process is filled with perils for the young and the old alike, DC said, adding the proposal to construct a floating jetty has been prepared in light of this visible danger. The floating jetty will be constructed in a way that it can be dismantled and safely stowed away during monsoon, a time when the island is off limits for all, tourists included, DC said, adding the tourism department wants to be proactive with regard to safety of tourists rather than wait for a tragedy.
Taking a step further in enhancing safety of tourists visiting Malpe beach, DC directed KRIDL officials to set up CCTVs at vantage points identified by the district police. She also instructed them to construct shelters for the benefit of tourists and watch towers on the beach. Anitha B R, assistant director, said the additional CCTVs are required near the Sea Walk, and other uncovered areas along the beach and Rs 69 lakh have been sought under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
Tourism department has already removed petty shops on the Trasi-Maravanthe stretch of National Highway 66 and will construct 20 well-designed shops there. The shops will be given to those who ran the petty shops there earlier, DC said. The guest house of the department at Trasi will be renovated in a manner that if reflects local ethos, she said directing the department to submit a proposal in this regard to Nirmithi Kendra to take up the job.
The DC also directed the tourism department to identify land belonging to it on the Trasi-Maravanthe stretch and fence it off to prevent encroachment and also set up a yatri nivas there. The committee also discussed in length about five fresh permissions received to start house boats to go with two for which permission has been given. DC directed the department to ensure number of houseboats on the river do not go up needlessly and also that rules be frame to regulate them.
A sub-committee has been set up to obtain Blue Flag notification for Padubidri beach. Foundation for Environmental Education gives ‘blue flag’ certification a beach, a marina or a sustainable boating tourism operator. The criteria include standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria, DC explained.
A file photo shows a jetty at the St Marys Island