Community to look into coastal protection

To involve community in the ambitious sea wall project to check sea erosion in Coastal Karnataka, a community-based monitoring—shoreline management organisations (SMOs), as a part of shoreline management plan will be created in Ullal, Bengre and Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district. 

Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Programme Joint Director Gopal Nayak said the organisation would act as a link between the work implementing authority and the community to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
In the long-run, the organisation can promote tourism and exploit tourism potentials in the shore.

The organisation will have 33 per cent reservation for women. The SMO at Bengre has been created and will be registered shortly.

The SMO at Ullal will be formed shortly. Apart from the local residents, officials from Department of Ports, Fisheries and Coastal Regulator Zone will be made ex-officio members while experienced fishermen and community leaders will be honorary members.
He said that the SMO will get a grant of Rs 2.50 lakh from Asian Development Bank (ADB) to take up awareness activities. They can create awareness on health and other important issues that is bothering them on the shore among the community.

The role of the organisation is primarily to bridge the gap between the community and those who implement the project. The SMO will look into the work of the contractor, bring the issue of any violations to the notice of the authorities, aide the contractor during the implementation of the work by supplying needed labourers, thereby generate employment. After the completion of the project.

The SMOs also have to monitor the progress of the project and report any damage to the Port and Inland Water department.  The organisation can also take up beach cleaning work and thus maintain the beach surroundings clean and tidy, said Nayak.

“This is an attempt to get the community involved in the project, so that any  issues can be solved by the community itself,”  Similar communities will be created at Ullal and Surathkal, where sustainable development projects are being implemented, he said.