Golf cub at Kasaba Bengre awaits Centre’s approval

Mangaluru: A proposal to set up golf club near the sea shore at Kasaba Bengre village in the city awaits approval from the Centre.

Dakshina Kannada district administration has handed over 135 acres of land at Kasaba Bengre near Tannirbavi Beach to tourism department for the purpose of setting up a golf club. The Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority has cleared the proposal in September this year and also sent a letter to the state and centre. The project will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 175 crore after both state the central governments give approval, said MLC Ivan D’Souza.

Tourism minister Priyank Kharge has said that the golf club will be set up within two years after receiving approval from the centre, Ivan said.

“The Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority has already sent a letter to the secretary, Union mnistry of evironment, frest and climate change recommending setting up of a golf club. The work can be commenced soon after the centre approves the proposal,” Ivan said adding that the tourism department is expecting exemption from Coastal Regulation Zone rules for the proposal.

The tourism department has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a developer six years ago. However, the work could not commence since the proposal is yet to be cleared by the centre, Ivan said adding that the issue was discussed in the recently concluded winter session of the state legislature too. “The minister has said that the project will be taken up on priority,” he added.

At present, Mangaluru has only one golf course at Pilikula on the city outskirts. The new golf club at Kasaba Bengre will have all other allied infrastructure required.