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A Vision for Pavinkurve and

The Peninsula North of Sharavati River Estuary

Honnavar Taluk

Uttara Kannada

Rajan Shastri

26th Oct 2007

Rajan Shastri

Pavinkurve

Post Karki, Honnavar Taluk,

Uttara Kannada, KA 581341

Mobile: 998-633-6753

E-mail: rshas3@gmail.com

Contents

3Summary

4Location for a Port

4Accommodating Port & People

5About Pavinkurve

6Environmental Goals

7Sanitation Goals

7Social Goals

7Educational Goals

7Economic Goals

7Tourism Potential

9Town Planning

9Risks

Summary

This paper outlines the vision for bringing about Economic, Social and Environmental improvement to the Peninsula North of the Sharavathi River Estuary situated in Honnavar Taluk, Uttara Kannada (U.K.), Karnataka. This Peninsular is bounded by:

Dhareshwar Hills in the North

The Sharavathi River Estuary in the South

Badagani River in the East. The Badagani River joins the Sharavathi at its estuary

Arabian Sea in the West.

The Northern portion of the Peninsula is under the jurisdiction of the Haldipur Panchayat. The Southern portion of the Peninsula is under the jurisdiction of the Karki Panchayat.

3 Km off the coast of this Peninsula is a picturesque island called Basvaraja Durga.

Pavinkurve is the Southern most part of this Peninsula. Even though Pavinkurve is situated just off NH17, which is a major north/south artery by the west coast, it is relatively isolated because the road access is 6 kilometers from the north from Haldipur. The commonly used access is via a hanging footbridge, which allows motorcycle access as well.

The entire Peninsula is relatively unspoiled by modernity. Preserving and improving the pristine nature of the area represents a significant challenge.

The Peninsula is poised for growth due to the possibility of the northern part of the Peninsula west of Haldipur being considered for development as a Port. This development presents an opportunity to:

Bring modernity to this area without affecting its pristine nature.

Demonstrate the coexistence of a Port, side by side with residential & agricultural areas, along with tourist facilities.

Preserve the ecological system

Show that the social system need not be destroyed and people can be accommodated

Sanitation facilities is somewhat lacking primarily due to the resistance to change and reluctance of local residents who own houses, but refuse to build toilets. Many own two wheelers and subscribe to Satellite TV, but do not invest in toilets! Total sanitation can be instituted by revoking BPL privileges of home owners not having toilets and providing additional sanitation facilities for public use and for the very poor.

With regards to Pavinkurve, the bridge would be a symbolic demarcation between what is and what could be a Paradise!

The overall vision includes launching initiatives to improve the level of education in the local primary school, educate the villagers on environmental issues, and help the local economy.

Area planning guidelines must be instituted to preserve the natural beauty of this place.

Location for a Port

The sparse population and the geographic nature of the Peninsula that facilitates access control, makes this an ideal location for a Port provided the parameters for a Port are satisfied. The Peninsula is boxed in between the Dhareshwar hill to the North and rivers to the East and South. The access road from Haldipur provides the only four-wheel vehicular access to the Peninsula. The seashore is located just a few kilometers from NH17, which makes it highly accessible as well.

Establishing a Port in this location would boost the local economy and also enhance tourism. Overall it will be a big plus provided the area development plans will take into consideration relocating current stake holders satisfactorily and adhere to strict environmental guidelines with attention to ecology and the pristine nature of the Peninsula.

Accommodating Port & People

As always land acquisition is a contentious issue. First of all the access road from Haldipur would have to be widened. The portion of the road East of the Badagani River has many residences that would have to provide easement of the land. The concern of the local residents residing in the Peninsula, is that of displacement and the upsetting of their lives.

Appropriate and adequate compensation for the people who live on the access road in between HW17 and the Badagani River would be crucial to gain the support of these residents. The alternative is to build a new road that skirts the Dharweshwar Hill. This might be the more expedient solution.

Acquiring the entire Peninsula for the Port would disrupt the entire community and also destroy the possibility of establishing residential and tourist facilities.

The following represents the possibility of a WIN/WIN situation wherein a reasonable resolution can be achieved to accommodate the affected stake holders.

1. Acquire only the Northern portion of the Peninsula under the jurisdiction of the Haldipur Panchayat for the Port

2. Allow the Southern portion under the jurisdiction of the Karki Panchayat to be designated for residential, agriculture and tourism

3. Develop a planned residential area on public land in the southern part of the Peninsula.

4. Relocate residents from the area designated for the port to the planned residential area. For the current residents, base the swap on current land holding and existing structure. Make it quid pro quo.

5. Build a new vehicular bridge and road between the Peninsula and HW17 between Karki and Haldipur. This road would provide vehicle access to the Port at the southern perimeter and to the residential/tourist area at the Northern perimeter.

6. The Hanging Bridge would continue to serve pedestrian and two wheeler traffic.

If people are given a viable and attractive alternative to a new place in the neighbourhood they will be more amenable to move. They will be closer to the railway station plus the general area will see significant improvement and their property values will go up as time goes by.

About Pavinkurve

Pavinkurve is a strip by the ocean on the north side of the mouth of the Sharavati River in North Karnataka also known as Uttara Kannada (U.K.). To the West is the Arabian Sea. To the East is the section of the Badagani river that runs North to South and empties into the Mouth of the Sharavathi river. The nearest town is Honnavar. Honnavar is equidistant (about 4 Hours by road/train) from Panaji to the North and Mangaluru to the South.

In the context of the possibility of a Port being developed in the Northern part of the Peninsula, the residential, agricultural and tourism part in the Southern part is referred to as Pavinkurve.

The well-traveled access to Pavinkurve, is from Karki, via a hanging footbridge that spans the Badagani river. The bridge accommodates cycles and motorbikes as well. There is a road access from Haldipur, but there is very little vehicular traffic. Pavinkurve is almost like an island. At the same time it is a 25 minutes walk to Karki, on Hwy 17 that runs along the West Coast. The train station for Honnavar is 5 minutes by foot from Karki. Honnavar is 5Km south of Karki. Karki is exactly 190 Km from Panaji and Mangaluru.

Hanging Footbridge to Pavinkurve

Environmental Goals

This is probably the biggest challenge and that is to change peoples ingrained habits. The goal is to inculcate a sense of civic duty and environmental consciousness among the people not to throw trash and improve the general cleanliness of the area etc.

India has been an excellent recycler of paper, cloth and metals. Vegetable matter is fed to cattle. Cats, birds and dogs scavenge the animal remains. The introduction of Plastic bags, PET bottles, wrappings of sweets, supari, discarded packages of Biscuits, Fritolay, Kurkure etc. poses one of the biggest garbage disposal problems for India today, and Pavinkurve is no exception. Introduction of Western packaging to Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FCMG) and Indias inability to cope with the magnitude of this problem is impacting the environment significantly.

Introducing simple things like thrash bins and thrash collection, would be a first step. Getting the people to use them would be the next step. Cleaning the cans and disposing of the garbage would be the third step. Establishing a self-sustaining garbage collection/recycling program would be a long-term goal.

Too many stray dogs pose a problem and Pavinkurve is no exception. At some point in time a sterilization campaign needs to be introduced to control/eliminate the stray dog population.

Sea Turtles are known to visit Pavinkurve occasionally to lay their eggs. However the villagers poach the eggs and these visitations are now a rarity. The government has launched an excellent program which rewards people who report a nest with Rs. 500. This is working well. Educating the villagers on the importance of Sea Turtles and informing them that it is a punishable offense would help make these visitations more a regularity. Dolphins are sighted quite often off the coast of Pavinkurve.

It is quite conceivable to see Pavinkurve as a pollution free zone where air, visual (thrash and signage) and noise pollution are kept in check.

Sanitation Goals

There are a few villages and scattered communities that reside on the Pavinkurve coast. There is a shortage of toilets and the villagers defecate in the open by the sea shore. Providing adequate Toilet facilities is a short-term goal. Thankfully, there is adequate supply of fresh water from wells.

Social Goals

Alcoholism is rampant in Rural India and Pavinkurve is no exception. Sporadically, the women banded together to stop drinking in Pavinkurve. But this does not stop individuals from going to Karki across the hanging bridge for a swig. The adults are more or less a write off. The only hope to moderate/eradicate drinking, smoking and chewing tobacco is to educate the children on the perils of these habits.

Educational Goals

There is a primary school and an Anganwadi (Bal Vihar) in Pavinkurve. It is staffed well and the teachers are conscientious. Providing additional facilities by way of sports equipment and computers would benefit the children significantly. Children are Indias hope and instilling a sense of civic mindedness, respect for the environment will result in rich long-term dividends.

Economic Goals

The current economy of Pavinkurve includes rice and sugar cane cultivation, poultry farming, coconut and cashew groves, and fishing. There use to be Shrimp Farming, but that has ceased. A number of individual fishermen work for owners of boats that operate from Honnavar harbor. A few fish off the coast or by the Badagani river. Many go to Honnavar or Kumta for work. A significant number of the residents live Below the Poverty Line. Eradicating Poverty from Pavinkurve is a very achievable goal with local economic initiatives Tourism and the Port providing the economic engine.

There is a womens group that meets in the local primary school on the lines of Grameen Self Help Group. Providing micro-credit and basic business assistance is an activity that may help the locals, provided initiatives are identified and taught to them.

Pavinkurve is a wonderful tourist destination, provided adequate facilities are built and the environment is maintained. This would bring about much needed economic gains.

Maintaining a mix of agricultural, residential, commercial (tourism, retail, dining and entertainment) is the overall economic goal for Pavinkurve.

Tourism Potential

The stretch of beach in Pavinkurve is excellent for introducing water sports like sailing, kayaking and wind surfing. Except during the monsoons, the sea is calm and gentle. The nearby Basavaraja Durga Island is an excellent point of interest for day excursions and possible organized overnight camping. The nearby Mesta Fishermen Village has the potential to provide city dwellers with a village experience. Backwater tours can be provided from Pavinkurve as well as from nearby Honnavar. Deep Sea fishing excursions can be provided from the Honnavar Port. The hills to the East are close by and provide excellent biking and trekking opportunities.

There are a number of points of interest situated in the vicinity of Pavinkurve/Honnavar. There is Gokarna and Om Beach an hour away to the North, Jog falls is 60 kms to the East, Murudeshwar is 45mins away to the south.

A stretch of the Beach

Basvarajadurga Island

Karikanamma is a scenic mountain that has the breathtaking view of the Arabian sea. The Durga Maheshwari temple is situated on top of the hill range and is about 10Km from Pavinkurve. The views of the terrain on the way to this place is spectacular..

View from Karikanamma Maheshwari Temple

Town Planning

Town/Area planning is sorely lacking in India. Lack of planning and guidelines lead to congestion, sprawl and unchecked development. Pavinkurve beachfront is a green field/virgin territory and establishing well-defined guidelines before it develops in an un-organized manner, would lead to good aesthetics and a visually pleasing area. The master plan should include the layout of access roads, guidelines for establishing beachfront businesses, signage etc.

Risks

Every year the sea is encroaching and there is erosion. A vast portion of land has already been submerged due to the gentle slope of the area into the sea. The evidence of this is very clear from comparing previous maps with current surveys. The sea is extremely rough and fierce during the monsoons and comes in closer to the land. Pitching (a wall of rocks) has protected significant portions of the Peninsula. The affect of global warming is unclear. There is a possibility of more land being submerged. The need for a sea wall will have to be assessed if this Peninsula is to be protected.

The Port Authority has submitted a plan to use sand filled nylon tubes to protect erosion. This method would maintain the contour of the coastline without marring it like pitching. This proposal is awaiting approval.

The Port will have to be a clean and environmentally friendly port with strict environmental control of both land based vehicles, ships and boats that access the port.

Indiscriminate conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural land will affect this area significantly. The goal and challenge is to maintain the co-existence of tradition and modernity.

Gaining the support of the local community to surrender their land & houses for the Port represents a significant challenge that can be overcome provided equitable compensation along with attractive alternatives are presented.

References:

Sharavathi River: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharavathi_RiverHonnavar: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HonnavarHonnavar: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/karavali/honavar/history.htmCoastal erosion in Pavinkurve:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/07/26/stories/0426210p.htmhttp://www.jcronline.org.pinnacle.allenpress.com/doi/abs/10.2112/07-0902.1http://www.icmam.gov.in/11thp.htm

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Basavaraja Durga Island

Pavinkurva

Sharavathi River Estuary

Honnavar

Karki

Haldipur

Badagani River

Dhareshwar Hill