'Rs 3 cr set aside to install NMR device in boats'

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s help will be sought to install NavIC Messaging Receiver (NMR) device on fishing boats in Karnataka, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Venkata Rao Nadagouda said.

With the help of device, messages alerting fishermen about weather and any natural disaster will be sent to their Android-based phones, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons here, on Wednesday, Nadagowda said, “The state government has set aside Rs 3 crore in the budget for the purpose. The NMR will be made mandatory for fishing boats in the state. After the Lok Sabha election, the plans for the project will be chalked out.”

He said the alliance of the various political parties to form the government was not a new practice in the state. “The only motive behind both coalition parties coming together is to oust the communal BJP from coming to power.”

Emphasising the need for secular government at centre, Nadagouda said the present regime, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was causing damage to the secular ethos of the Constitution.

“To overthrow the BJP, more than 20 parties with similar ideologies have come together to fight the election,” he said. Coming down heavily on NDA government, he said the BJP had come to power giving false assurances.

He said development was not possible through speeches delivered by Modi. “Development issues will get an upper hand in the election. The voters will teach a lesson to the BJP in the election.”

BJP leaders have no right to criticise Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for not visiting the families of the fishermen who had gone missing from deep sea along with their boat off the coast of Malpe, the minister said.

“Their own leaders, especially MP Ananth Kumar Hegde, have not visited the families till date in Uttar Kannada district.”

BJP was into ugly politics and was unnecessarily making the issue a poll gimmick, he said.

The state government has taken all required measures to trace the fishermen and is also taking care of their families. The home minister has already visited the houses of missing fishermen, he added.

There is still no information about seven missing fishermen from Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. The state government is in constant touch with the central government in this regard, the minister added.

Nadagouda was in Udupi to campaign for Udupi-Chikmagalur JDS candidate Pramod Madhwaraj.