Will try to revive project of developing dedicated Mangaluru-Lakshadweep jetty: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta said on Tuesday that he will make an effort to revive the project of developing a dedicated jetty for the handling of cargo and cruise vessels bound for Lakshadweep at the Old Port in Mangaluru, Karnataka. The proposal was sanctioned under the Sagarmala project.

Under Sagarmala, the executing agency is the state government’s port department, which is not showing any interest in resolving issues pertaining to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), Chowta claimed. In a reply to the unstarred question by Chowta, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal had said, "dedicated jetty project for Lakshadweep at Old Mangalore Port under Sagarmala scheme has been put under the 'deemed deferred category’ as per the Sagarmala funding guidelines."

"I will make every effort to revive the project which will help in improving maritime connectivity between Lakshadweep and Mangalore Port," Chowta said.

The MP accused the Siddaramaiah-led state government in Karnataka of not showing seriousness in implementing Centre-sponsored projects in the state. One of the best examples is the Karnataka state government failing to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to identify beneficiaries for PM Awas Yojana-2, he said.

"The National Highway projects are delayed in the name of delay in the land acquisition process. The State government has no concern for the development of coastal Karnataka and Malnad. What was the need to hold a KDP meeting and hold discussions when the state government has failed to take up development in the region?" he added.

He accused the Congress MPs of showing arrogance and disrupting the parliament proceedings during the winter session. The Congress is desperate after having lost the elections, he alleged.

Capt Chowta said that he had also raised the issue of inclusion of Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction Railway stations under the South Western Railway (SWR) during the question hour in parliament.

"I will pursue the issue further as the inclusion of both the stations under SWR will help in better administration. I have been emphasising for the merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with the Indian Railways. However, the state government, which is a shareholder in the KRCL, has to exit from the corporation. The MLAs from the coast also have raised the issue in the recently held Legislature Session and the state government has sought the best exiting option," the MP said.

Speaking on Mangaluru–Bengaluru road connectivity, the MP said, a survey to prepare a suitable alternative and the work on detailed project report (DPR) has already begun. "Once the report was prepared, the same will have to get clearances from the forest department and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. I will pursue the matter seriously," he said.

"I had also met the Union Finance Minister to push for the project on Coast Guard Academy in Mangaluru. Already, 150 acre land has been identified for the purpose and has also sought premiere banking institution," he added.