Minister seeks additional` 50 cr to check sea erosion

Govt mulls over textile park in Yadgiri, says Baburao Chinchanasoor

Minister for Ports, inland water transport and textiles Baburao Chinchanasoor has said that the State government with the help of Central government is mulling over setting up of a textile park to meet international standards, in Yadgiri.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he said that about 3,300 acres of land has already been acquired. The textile park will come up on 1,000 acre land. The park will benefit farmers who grow cotton and weavers.

Stating that Nanjudappa report had urged the government to develop Hyderabad- Karnataka region, the minister said that Yadgiri is one of the backward districts of Karnataka. Hence, the State government has decided to set up textile park in Yadgiri.

Sea erosion

The Minister said that he had sought additional Rs 50 crore in the budget to take up temporary work to check sea erosion in three districts and also to develop ports. The development of port will be taken up on war footing basis. The director of ports has been asked to assess the situation pertaining to sea erosion and submit a report within a week.

To a query on third phase of extension of Mangalore fishing harbour, Director Capt Raj Gatta Mohan said that about 25 per cent of the work has been completed. The total length of the project is 1081 metres. About 424 metres work along with 140 piles has been completed. The department is confident of providing atleast 120 metres space for anchoring boats in the third phase by August. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 57.6 crore, he added.

Assistant Executive Engineer A S Rao said that third phase of Mangalore harbour will be completed by 2014. He said that the project will include auction hall, net mending shed, gear shed, boat repair yard, road, sub station, bridge to connect phase III with that of phase II, restaurant and a rest shed.

On commercial harbour which will come up towards North Wharf, Capt Mohan said that the proposal awaits approval from the government.

Maritime board

To a query on the proposed Karnataka maritime board, Capt Mohan said that the proposal is with the President for approval. The Board will help in the overall development of ports in the State. It will come into force, once the proposal gets nod from the president. The Minister will be the chairman of the board. The government will decide on the head of the Board, he added.

ADB funded project

On ADB funded project to check sea erosion, the director said that the estimated cost of the project is Rs 911 crore (198 million dollar). This includes 126 million dollar from ADB and 72 million dollar from Karnataka government. The work will be taken up in three phases and the first phase of the work will be taken up in Ullal at a cost of Rs 223.32 crore. The work includes construction of four inshore berms.

“Tender process for constructing inshore berms has already been completed and the work order has been given to RDS Project Ltd, Kochi. The site for the construction of the berms has already been handed over to the contractor on March 18, 2013 and the work on storing sand for the proposed work is in progress,” he said.

Two offshore reefs will be laid and the consultancy is preparing the design and estimate for the reefs. Even the existing breakwater will be altered so that sand gets deposited in the coast, to check erosion.