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ShareMangalore: Fifteen houses built on government land at Someshwara beach by individuals who are known to be very influential persons have been ordered to be brought down by the district administration. The houses were situated about 14 kilometers away from Mangalore city.
"The buildings were built without proper licenses or building permits on government land. Despite our repeated notices, they have not vacated the land. So the district administration decided to reclaim the land and demolish the houses," said V Ponnuraj, deputy commissioner, Mangalore.
These houses were built some three years back and over 100 acres of pristine beach property. Some of the buildings are stated to belong to very influential people including police officers.
The houses have been used as beach cottages, and high-level officials and tourists from the country and abroad used to stay there for Rs5,000-6,000 a day, said Ramesh, a domestic help in one of the houses. "My job was to bring them food and drinks, and maintain the house," he said.
The buildings have violated the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms.
"There should not be any permanent structures on the beach to a distance of 500 meters from the high tide line (HTL). These houses are built on governmental land coming under CRZ," said Patil, CRZ official of the beach.
Prabhulinga Kavalkatti, assistant commissioner, Mangalore, who directed the demolition drive, said that the buildings were built without the knowledge or permission of the revenue department. "The department had issued many notices seeking the vacation ofthe land," he said.
