BANGALORE: The government has sought exemption from the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) to promote construction of beach resorts at 41 beaches and 11 islands in the state, Tourism Minister R V Deshpande said on Monday. Private individuals or Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited or Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation can take up the beach resorts.
He told reporters that the department had identified those beaches and islands in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. According to the existing CRZ rules, no beach resort is permitted within 200 metres of high tides in sea. At the meeting of Tourism Ministers of all states held last week, Karnataka requested the Centre to give exemption from 200 metres to 50 or 80 metres for the construction of resorts in beaches and islands. “If the state Cabinet approves, land in beaches will be given on lease or sold through auction,” he said.
The minister said a six-member committee visited Goa, Kerala and Karnataka to study the promotion of tourism in coastal areas. In fact, the Centre had released `50 crore in June this year towards coastal circuit tourism and development of 23 beaches in those three districts. This was for the first time the Centre had released funds for development of coastal tourism. Besides, the Centre had cleared 12 tourism projects worth `161.21 crore for the current year. Amount would be released after going through Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Deshpande said the state has given proposal to start an additional hotel management institute, training of guides from Skill Development Centre, appointment of consultant to identify and grade homestays in Malnad region and giving powers to local officers to give permission for providing basic facilities to tourists in Hampi following non-clearance of project to build toilets at World Heritage Centre by Archaeological Survey of India. The government had requested the Centre to take up development of unutilised airstrips for the sake of tourists.
Other Highlights: New tourism policy to be placed before the Cabinet in the next 15 days and Jungle Lodges Private Limited to start 16-km trekking from Castlerock in Uttara Kannada to Dudhsagar from November 1.
‘Don’t Care if Dropped’
“I am like a tired horse. I am not bothered whether I would be given a new portfolio or dropped from the Council of Ministers,” said Deshpande. “I have held ministerial posts for almost 30 years. I won’t feel bad even if I am sent home.”
‘Biometric System for Lecturers’
Minister R V Deshpande said biometric attendance system for lecturers have been introduced in 310 government and aided colleges. He said the system would be introduced in the remaining 101 colleges by October-end.
Recently, a surprise visit by Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao found that 42 of 52 lecturers in a college were not present at that time. Lecturers have to swipe two times a day and their face and thumb impressions would be recorded in the main server.