Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Friday that adventure sports would be promoted near the Manna Palla lake using Rs. 2 crore. He was speaking after inaugurating the administrative office of the Nirmiti Kendra near the lake here.

Mr. Madhwaraj said the government was already in talks with the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure to promote adventure sports at Manna Palla lake and develop it as a major tourist destination. The district administration has allotted two acres of land for this purpose near the lake. The government has spent money on the beautification of the lake. Silt has been removed from the lake to increase its water-retention capacity, and as a result, it is only during peak summer that the water level in the lake reaches a low point, he said.

Besides the lake, the government is giving importance to developing Malpe beach. Already, a beach-cleaning machine has been purchased for Rs. 75 lakh. This machine is cleaning all the dirt from the beach and helping bring tourists as a result, the Minister said.

Mr. Madhwaraj said he would take the demand for raising the funds cap at present Rs. 2 crore for the works being awarded to the Nirmiti Kendra. “The cap might be imposed on account of provisions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, but I will take up the issue with the Finance and Rural Development departments,” he said.

Meanwhile, scholar Bannanje Govindacharya lamented the “total lack of sense of aesthetics and architecture” in present-day buildings. He said that in the name of “reckless renovation”, the ancient architecture of many temples in the coastal districts was being destroyed.

He pointed out the ancient Vaastu Shastra had clear rules on the construction of houses, temples and towns. Udupi is a major pilgrim centre and the buildings here should reflect the heritage and aesthetics, he said.