Mangaluru: With the arrival of monsoon, sandbags have returned to Meenakaliya Beach near Baikampady to avoid the threat of sea erosion.Mangaluru City North MLA Bharath Y Shetty said that he has been seeking funds from the state govt for a permanent solution of a stone barricade wall, but did not receive any funds.He said that sandbags are placed as a temporary measure every year before monsoon.Shetty added that he and his team procures gunny bags either from MRPL or Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), and place them near the beach face.Regarding funds, Shetty said that initially he funded the project and purchased bags for 2 years, but also sources funds from the MCC, and procures free gunny bags from MRPL.“I have sought for a permanent solution to the issue earlier as well, and will demand for it again during the next assembly session,” he added.The area’s populace mainly comprises fishing families, who have consistently faced sea erosion during monsoon.Udaya Kumar, a local fisherman, said that the threat has persisted for around five years. He said that four years ago, the connecting road was washed away, and currently only a mud road exists in its place.Govardhan Amin, another fisherman, moved to a rented accommodation nearby, after his house was completely damaged during Cyclone Tauktae in 2021. He had been living in the now-damaged house with his wife and two children before being forced to relocate. He said that rising costs have made living conditions increasingly difficult.Another 68-year-old fisherman, whose house was damaged three years ago, said he moved to a rented house in another locality. Despite financial difficulties, he repaired his old house and rented it out, using that income to pay his current rent. He added that he is unable to work due to old age and continues to face hardship.
