Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 22: The protective wall built over the last several years to stop the waves from battering the seashore has crumbled under the intensity of a single cyclone. In contrast, the green patches on the shores that are covered by bushes and vines and have the power to retain sand at the shore, have remained unaffected.

A team of experts led by the regional director of the department of environment, which has been visiting various spots on the seashore in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have recorded the fact that the shores protected by green cover as above have not suffered any ill effects from the cyclone.

The protective walls built as per the advice of the expert engineers have suffered heavily. The seashore where sand nourishment was undertaken under the groin method and the places where T-joints were stacked, the seashore has withstood the onslaught of waves.

The places where the green cover is available are Tannirbavi Mangaluru, Bengre, near the entry point to Sasihithlu Munda beach, Hejamady new port, Beejady Kody etc have green cover and hence did not crumble. But not many places with such green cover have survived till now.

The engineering department has not been properly protecting the seashore as evidenced by the situation at Ullal, Someshwar extension layout, Battampadi, Mukka, Kaup etc. The experts feel that Ipomoea vines which grow in seashore, and such other vegetation are suitable to save the seashores from waves.

Because of man-made disasters like encroachment and unscientific construction, the government land adjacent to the sea is getting eroded every year. Building of protective wall and heaping of boulders on the seashore have not been cost effective.

Dr Dinesh Kumar, regional director, environment department here, said that no encroachment should be allowed for a distance of a hundred metres from the edge of the sea and vines and plants which can hold the sand together should be grown there. He said that the study report of the department will soon be submitted to the higher officers.