First eco-themed beach in south India to be thrown open to public today.
In attempt to promote eco-tourism, the forest department Karnataka has opened a new vista of eco-beaches for the first time in South India.
The lonely beach stretch in Kasarkod village of Honnavar taluk, which is by the side of the National Highway 66, has been promoted as the first eco-themed beach, which will be thrown open to public on Wednesday.
“The forest department had the eco-beach concept on the card for sometime, but things started falling into place only after the government released Rs76 lakh. The department has a large Casurina plantation, which has developed into a thick forest by the side of the beach, stretching up to a few kilometres on the sea front, and provides a thick green cover on the other side, (making it apt) for development of eco-theme beach,” said S Ramesh, deputy conservator of forest, Uttara Kannada.
The eco-beach also had an element of societal involvement. The local village forest committee will overlook the day-to-day maintenance of the beach. “It will guard the beach from vandals, keep the surroundings clean with proper maintenance of toilets and bathing facilities, and include additional facilities like designated swimming areas under the watchful eyes of the lifeguards. Also, periodic eco-educational sessions for children belonging to local schools are on the cards,” said Ramesh.
A major share of the income generated from the beach will go to the Village Forest Committee, while government and the forest department will get 10% of the income generated from the eco-beach each.
According to tourism department officials, the eco-beach concept will further be developed and included into the beach tourism circuit, while forest department is planning to send flyers to schools and colleges to make use of the eco-beach. A bird watching centre will also be opened soon.
The Uttara Kannada district forest department has also developed several other thematic parks using different tenets of ecology and environment at Om Beach in Gokarna, Nushikote in Hirigutti, and nature camps at Yana, Apsarakunda and Vinayakavana.
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