Mangalore, September 20: Minister for Ports and Textile Baburao Chinchanasur speaking to the media on visiting Mangalore on September 19th, said that for the overall development of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts; the eight-year pilot project worth Rs 911 crore will be implemented with the aid of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the coastal belt of the State.
The minister said that in the three-level project- in its first phase, Ullal which has been affected by sea erosion will be benefitted. The work on four in-shore brims with an estimated cost of Rs 25.51 crore is under progress and sand collection will begin from the month of October. The tender process of two offshore reefs worth Rs 88 crores is in the last stage. The re-construction of breakwaters with an estimated cost of Rs 46 crores will begin in the month of October 2014.
Development of ports: The Minister said that under new port policy, out of 11 minor ports, five will be developed with private partnership. For Lakshadweep Group of Companies, a proposal of dedicated dike worth Rs 50 crores will be sanctioned within a week. To develop Honnavar Port Limited of Honnavar, land is given to a Hyderabad based company in an estimated cost of Rs 511.30 crores under lease. At Manki, 75,000 square metres of land is given to Renuka Sugars to develop it with an estimated cost of Rs 46 crores. The proposal of captive port construction at Pavinakurve Basavaraja Durga Island is under consideration.
He also said that, a proposal has been put forth to develop Tadadi port with an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crores. Discussions were carried on the proposal of developing Belekeri port with the partnership of Ashriya Limited with a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. The government is ready to provide land and company will invest funds. To develop Tadadi port with a cost of Rs 5,000 crores, the government has discussed with Adani Limited.
Department of Ports has set aside Rs 36.63 crores for various developmental works in three districts. The government would release Rs 22.43 crores for Uttara Kannada, Rs 4.50 crores for Dakshina Kannada, Rs 4 crores for Udupi and Rs 5.70 crores for inland water transportation.
Also he said that the second-level dike at Karavar port will be extended with private partnership which costs Rs 1,500 crores.
He said that around Rs 7.15 crore has been spent to erect temporary dikes to stop sea erosion in the year 2014-15.Funds are sufficient to erect dikes to check sea erosion problem.
Chinchanasur said that to inaugurate various developmental works, he would be in Mangalore or Udupi on 27th, 28th and 29th of September.
Textile policy: Baburao Chinchansoor revealed that the modern textile policy of the government would attract around Rs 10,000 crores of investment and would provide jobs to over five lakh citizens. He said, on the proposal of erecting textile parks at Yadgiri district, a number of companies are interested.
