Bangalore: France has come forward to fund one-third cost of pilot project of protecting coast from sea erosion in Karnataka using "stabiplage" technology, the state Fisheries and Ports Minister Vasanth V Salian said on July 2.

The pilot project, costing Rs 8.3 crore, is proposed to be taken up for about 1.5 km length in Ullal- Kotepur area on the West Coast, Salian said in a release.

The Minister, accompanied by officials from the state Public Works Department (PWD) and Central Water Resources Department, is going to France on July 3 for a site visit to inspect the beach in France, where stabiplage technology had been successfully employed, as well study the technology implemented in that country.

A senior technical official from France's Espace Pur had visited the area earlier and had submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister S M Krishna for protection along the coast using this technology.

Salian said Ullal-Kotepur area is always subject to severe sea erosion and in order to protect the life and property of the people along the coast, government is taking action for construction of sea walls, but the conventional methods of coastal protection have not been successful.

It was noted that stabiplage technology consists of a series of elliptical tabular structure made of special geocomposite. It combines flexibility with strength and permeability, and harnesses sediments to hold them in place, while conserving the overall balance of the coastline.

By its unique feature and design characteristics, the statement said, the structure is able to absorb wave energy and resists the greater force of high seas.

PTI