Mangaluru: With the onset of the monsoon season, sandbags have reappeared at Meenakaliya Beach near Baikampady as a temporary measure to prevent sea erosion. Mangaluru City North MLA Bharath Y Shetty stated that he has repeatedly requested funds from the state government for a permanent stone barricade wall, but no financial support has been provided.
Temporary Measure Repeated Annually
Shetty explained that sandbags are placed every year before monsoon as a stopgap solution. He and his team procure gunny bags either from MRPL or the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and position them near the beach face. Initially, Shetty funded the project himself, purchasing bags for two years, but now also sources funds from the MCC and obtains free gunny bags from MRPL.
Call for Permanent Solution
“I have sought a permanent solution to the issue earlier as well, and will demand for it again during the next assembly session,” Shetty added. The area is primarily inhabited by fishing families, who have consistently faced sea erosion during monsoon.
Stories of Hardship
Udaya Kumar, a local fisherman, noted that the threat has persisted for about five years. He recalled that four years ago, the connecting road was washed away, leaving only a mud road in its place. Govardhan Amin, another fisherman, was forced to move to a rented accommodation after his house was completely destroyed during Cyclone Tauktae in 2021. He had lived there with his wife and two children. Rising costs have made living conditions increasingly difficult for him.
A 68-year-old fisherman, whose house was damaged three years ago, relocated to a rented house in another locality. Despite financial struggles, he repaired his old house and rented it out to cover his current rent. Unable to work due to his age, he continues to face hardship.
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