The silence is broken by the occasional wave crashing upon the shore, full of fine, golden sand. There is hardly anyone to be seen, if you discount the odd, adventurous foreign tourist who has come to check out if there is truly a place which offers complete solitude amidst virgin surroundings. Then there are the groves of coconut and other wind-bearing trees that offer shelter from the scorching Sun. The nearby river provides fresh water while the fine sand makes sunbathing a must-do activity. That’s not all. One can see the shells lying on the sea-bed through the blue, crystal clear waters reminding you of Mauritius but without the facilities offered by the tourist hotspot. However, this heaven-on-earth called Belekaana Beach will soon vanish.
The golden sand will turn dirty as polluted air replaces the cool, clean breeze. The waters will not be spared either. The effluents of a huge power project will ensure the waters stay contaminated for a long time to come. Belekaana Beach will soon lose its allure in the eyes of discerning foreign tourists; apart from a few fishermen the local populace is hardly aware of the place’s tourist potential. Of late, however, people are thronging the beach before it loses its beauty to the Tadadi Thermal Power Project, once it is implemented. The 4,000 megawatt capacity power project will use the entire beach and fill up the entire stretch and surroundings with effluents, slurry and the frozen slush of fly-ash, signalling the death of a beautiful beach.
The beach hardly attracts attention except for the odd foreigner or two who seek solitude and soak in nature’s beauty. By word of mouth, several tourists heading towards Aum Beach, Gokarna have come here. It is no exaggeration to say that there is no other beach as safe and as beautiful as Belekaana. Fifteen kilometres away from the National Highway and a few kilometres away from the in-the-news Tadadi harbour, Belekaana is accessible from both Kumta and Ankola. Belekaana has been able to retain cleanliness and beauty so far, mainly because not many people knew of its existence as tourists proceeded straight to Gokarna or to Aum beach, ostensibly to sample its ‘nude’ delights. The world stops here at the long shoreline, arching gracefully and devoid of any human presence.
According to sources, the beach cannot be used wantonly as the area comes under the Special Economic Zone limits. At the same time, laws relating to coastal area regulation prohibits the use of the place in any manner. All these arguments kindle the hope that Belekaana may be spared. But the propensity to twist the law by vested interests to suit their requirements presents the most dangerous threat.
With an annual average of 5,000 foreign visitors, Belekaana Beach offers no facility except peace and solitude. Those visiting must look after their needs themselves. The closest village is Tadadi and the closest market, Gokarna. Coming from Kumta via Maadanageri, one must take a right turn near Sanikatta, to go to Gokarna. A left turn and a drive of 10 km brings us right to the edge of Belekaana Beach. There is no board giving any sort of direction or warning here. A stone dyke prevents soil erosion while huge rock clusters offer a nice picnic spot. The lush green forest embraces the arching shore, beckoning the adventurous tourist to explore its secrets. Alas! the encroaching rocks and the gigantic trees may soon pave way to the power project.
“Since a month, people have been coming here once in three days to shoot pictures... We fear whether we will be allowed to stay here... We are worried about our future...” I stared at the local fisherman who, spotting me take pictures, had decided to unburden himself. Though the Thermal Power Agitation Committee is fighting against the project, there is no hope for Belekaana Beach once the power plant is set up. However, it is the place to be, and enjoy, before that happens.
Translated by B S Srivani
