Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Thursday that a sea wall would be constructed at vulnerable stretches on Malpe beach to prevent sea erosion, at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

He inspected the damage to the road made of interlock tiles and to the bridge connecting Malpe to Thottam during his visit.

Mr. Madhwaraj told reporters that the government had sanctioned Rs. 3 crore from State Finance Commission (SFC) to Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC). The sea wall would be built from Hanumant Nagar to Vadabhandeshwara.

After the construction of the breakwater channel at the Malpe fisheries harbour, there had been no instance of sea erosion at the beach. However, last year there was slight sea erosion, and some boulders had been put to prevent it. This time, sea erosion had been quite severe.

The road with interlock tiles constructed at a cost of Rs. 52 lakh had been damaged. The small bridge, constructed for Rs. 8 lakh by the Nirmiti Kendra a few months ago, had sunk a bit from the ground level. “We will order a departmental inquiry on the quality of the bridge,” Mr. Madhwaraj said.

Presently, boulders were being put to check sea erosion in places such as Gangolli, Kodibengre, Maravanthe, Hosahithlu, Mannur-Padukere, and Udyavara-Padukere villages. A report prepared by the Deputy Commissioner on damage by sea erosion would be submitted to H.C. Mahadevappa, Public Works Minister.

All efforts were being made to protect the concrete road running along the coastline at Udyavara-Padukere village, he said.

An amount of Rs. 50 lakh each had been sanctioned by SFC for the construction of Malpe-Padukere Bridge and Kalsank-Kodankur Bridge, Rs. 75 lakh for widening Kalsank Bridge, and Rs. 25 lakh for Kambalkatte Minor Bridge, Mr. Madhwaraj said.