The conflict concerns the Karnataka government's proposal to establish a marina at Padukere Beach near Malpe in Udupi district as part of its coastal tourism development strategy. First discussed publicly in 2020, the project proposes the construction of a marina over a 3.69 km coastal stretch using offshore breakwaters extending approximately 1.66–2 km into the Arabian Sea. The project is estimated to cost around ₹800 crore and is being pursued by the Karnataka Coastal Development Authority (also referred to as the Coastal Development Board/Authority), with technical studies by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune.
The Government of Karnataka sees this as an opportunity to increase tourism, especially international tourism, in turn increasing employment as well. The many small, natural islands in this region make it even more suitable for the parking of various yachts and boats. "There are fewer intermediate berthing facilities for the 4,000-plus boats travelling between the Arabian sea and south Asian countries," says ]G. Jagadeesh](https://india.mongabay.com/2021/05/the-upcoming-marina-at-malpe-and-why-the-local-residents-are-against-it/), the Deputy Commissioner of Udupi. The Padukere beach will thus be a state-of-the-art marina that is of international standards.
Padukere Beach and the adjoining nearshore waters are coastal commons that sustain the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities through nearshore artisanal fishing. The area provides access to fishing grounds, boat launching and landing sites, and supports fish breeding habitats, mangroves and diverse marine biodiversity that underpin local fisheries. The coastline also regulates coastal processes such as sediment movement and shoreline stability.
In 2020, the district administration decided to commission a feasibility study, and in late 2020 the Karnataka government announced ₹1 crore for preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Simultaneously, the state also indicated that it would seek Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) relaxations from the Union government, similar to those granted to Goa, to facilitate coastal tourism infrastructure.
In January 2021, during a public meeting with MLA K.Raghupati and Panchayat members, the local fishing communities asserted that they will not allow the protect to be executed due to the impacts on their livelihood and the coastal ecology.
The proposal has triggered opposition from local fishing communities and residents of Padukere, Malpe and surrounding villages. While residents repeatedly state that they are not opposed to development, they argue that the marina threatens their traditional livelihoods, marine biodiversity and cultural identity. Fishers who depend on nearshore fishing techniques fear that increased recreational boating, underwater noise and altered coastal currents would push fish farther offshore, making fishing more difficult and economically unviable. Community members also report that existing coastal engineering structures have already altered tidal patterns and beach dynamics, raising concerns that additional breakwaters could worsen erosion and sediment movement.
Environmental researchers and marine biologists note that the Malpe-Padukere coast supports rich biodiversity, including mangrove ecosystems, phytoplankton, seaweeds, molluscs, fish species and marine mammals such as dolphins. Experts warn that marina construction and operation could damage mangroves, reduce aquatic vegetation that serves as fish nursery habitat, alter salinity and water circulation, and disrupt dolphin communication through underwater noise. These ecological changes are expected to directly affect fisheries as well as bird populations dependent on marine food chains.
Beyond environmental impacts, residents fear displacement and long-term socio-cultural changes driven by tourism-oriented development. Fishing community leaders have expressed concerns that the project could eventually force families to leave ancestral settlements or fundamentally alter traditional coastal livelihoods and community practices.
As of the information available, the conflict remains centred on the planning stage, with feasibility assessments and project preparation underway.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to cancel the project
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against loss of livelihood; complaint against environmental degradation
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Fishing
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
800
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Environmental Law, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Legal Status:
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Karnataka Coastal Development Authority, Udupi District Administration, Home Dept (GoK), Central Water & Power Research Station (CWPRS) Pune
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Malpe Fisherman's Association, Community Leaders
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
