Government to implement Rs 700 crore action plan to check sea erosion

Government to implement Rs 700 crore action plan to check sea erosion

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jun 8: Minister for Ports and Ecology Krishna Palemar informed media persons that an action plan worth Rs 700 crore has been drawn as a permanent solution to the problem of sea erosion from Ullal to Karwar. He added that the plan will be jointly implemented by the state and the central governments. Seventy percent of the required funds will be loaned by the Asian Development Bank and the rest of the funds will be given by the government.  

 

The minister said that 300kms of the coastline has been studied for the construction of retention walls. The successful completion of the first phase of the project will require Rs 264 crore, of which Rs 216 crore has already been released for Ullal and Rs 14 crore has been released for Mangalore. The rest of the amount will be released to Udupi, said the minister. 

Likewise, a project worth Rs 2,400 crore has been drawn up to check sea erosion along the coasts of Goa, Kerala, and Karnataka. A sum of Rs 700 crore has already been earmarked for the first phase of this project in Karnataka. The first phase of the project has already received the Cabinet’s nod. Tenders will soon be invited for the work. 

Palemar also said that ten ports in Karnataka will be entrusted to the private sector through the Marine Board to be developed under the public-private partnership. These ports, which generate annual revenue of Rs 24 – 28 crore, will be able to generate revenue of up to Rs 300 crore if handed over to private operators. During the first phase of the project, the ports of Karwar, Tadadi, and Belekeri will be given to private operators. Later, Malpe, Gangolli, and Hangarakatte will be entrusted to the private sector. 

The minister also said that the government has sanctioned houses to 5000 fishermen under the Matsyashraya Scheme, adding that 1200 fishermen have received shelters in Udupi alone. 

Palemar said that the work has already commenced on the third phase of the Malpe port project. During the first phase, tenders were invited for work worth Rs 52 crore. The government has already released Rs 3 crore for work on the development of Hangarakatte, Gongolli, and Kodikanyana ports. 

Proposals for Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore have already been submitted to the government for the development of Koderi and Karwar ports. A sum of Rs 57 has been earmarked for the development of Mangalore fisheries port, said the minister.