BJP govt has neglected sea erosion in Ullal, says Moily

Mangaluru: It is necessary for the government to spend money, and find solutions to the issue of sea erosion every year. Even if a project aiming at finding a permanent solution is underway, yearly expenditure for temporary measures is necessary, said former Union minister M Veerappa Moily.
The Congress leader said a comprehensive master plan is necessary to tackle the issue of sea erosion in Ullal and surrounding villages. He was speaking to the media, after visiting Battampady, Uchila and other places along the Ullal coast on Saturday. “The state and central governments have neglected the problems of people in the past three years. The negligence of the government has resulted in vast devastation due to sea erosion on the coast in Ullal and surrounding areas. I had visited this region earlier on several occasions. The plight of people in this region is devastating,” Moily said.
“I will meet chief minister Basavaraj Bommai along with Mangaluru MLA U T Khader and officials, to discuss the issue of sea erosion in Ullal. If the government prepares a plan for 10 years, most of the residents on the coast will have to vacate soon. Funds should be released for immediate measures. We need a two-way approach, to find a permanent solution to the sea erosion issue. An immediate measure should ensure protection to life and property of people living along the coast. Meanwhile, a permanent solution should prevent possibilities of sea erosion in future,” he said.
Earlier, Moily visited various villages on the coast, and heard the grievances of the people. A resident from Uchila said gram panchayats have been putting pressure on fishermen living on the coast, to vacate their houses and leave the place. “Where should we go for fishing after leaving the coast? We go for fishing using traditional boats. Now we are forced to keep boats in sheds at Someshwara. We are not even allowed to repair our houses,” the villager said. MLA U T Khader was present.