Udupi (The Hindu): The Malpe Development Committee will organise a water sports festival titled Malpe Beach Jalotsav on the Malpe Beach here on May 7 and 8.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner R. Vishal, who is also the president of the committee, said that the committee was holding the water sports festival for the first time on the beach. The intention of the festival was to popularise both Malpe Beach and St. Mary’s Island, located six kilometre off Malpe coast, as major tourist spots. Safety measures had been increased on the beach. Better parking facility had been created for four-wheelers.

The events planned for both the days include surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle, speed boat, banana ride and parasailing from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. There would be folklore performances by five groups from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the beach.

A mass yoga programme would be held from 6.30 a.m. to 8 a.m. on May 8. There would be competitions for differently-abled persons from 7.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. A throw-ball competition for women, a tug-of-war and sand sculpture competition would be held from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Cultural programmes would be held from 4.45 p.m.

An amusement park had been set up on Malpe beach. Food courts would be opened on the beach as part of the fest.

The theme of the festival would be “Malpe beach, my beach, clean beach and safe beach”.

In addition, there would be boat facilities from Malpe to St. Mary’s Island. Rock climbing event would be held on the island. The committee had spruced up the island by cleaning it. All efforts would be made to promote the St. Mary’s Island would be promoted as “zero-waste” and “no-plastic” island, he said.

Water scarcity

To a query on drinking water problem in the district, Dr. Vishal said that 29 villages were facing water scarcity and water was being transported through tankers. A task-force under the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat was monitoring the water situation. Already, drinking water projects estimated at Rs. 8.5 crore had been completed.

The government had released an amount of Rs. 2 crore to tackle drinking water problem in urban areas of the district. Water was now being supplied on alternate days in Udupi city. If water shortage continued due to decline in the water-level at Baje dam across the Swarna, tough measures might be taken, he said.