Bangalore, Oct 9 (IANS): The central government Wednesday granted Rs.1,000 crore as a special textile package to Karnataka for the revival of nine spinning mills and converting cooperative loans given to beneficiaries into equity shares.

"Of the total amount, Rs.10 crore will be paid towards dues raised from state run banks to build the integrated textile park at Doddaballapur near Bangalore and to set up textile parks and skill development centres across the state," said state Textiles, Ports and Inland Water Transports Minister Baburao Chinchansoor in a statement from New Delhi.

The minister participated in a day-long conference of state textile ministers in the national capital Wednesday.

"A part of the grant will be used to increase minimum wage for poor weavers, pay arrears of incentives and subsidies to investors," Chinchansoor said.

The state textiles ministry plans to set up an international textile park at Yadgir and a skill development centre at Gulbarga in the northeast region of the state with funds from the special package.

"The funds will also be used to train unemployed youth in skills required by handloom and powerloom units," the minister noted.

The minister said the government had secured central approval to build a new port at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district on the west coast at an estimated cost of Rs.600 crore through public-private partnership.

"The project work will commence in November second week," Chinchansoor said.

A proposal to set up a captive port by leading steel major Jindal group with an upfront investment of Rs.500 crore is being considered by the state government.

The state's ports department had recently floated tenders to build a protection wall along the west coast to prevent sea erosion that recurs during the southwest monsoon from June to September every year.

"The Rs.950-crore protection wall project will be executed with part finance from Asian Development Bank, while immediate sea erosion protection works are being carried out with state funds," Chinchansoor added.

Similarly, the department is constructing fishing jetties on the coastline for fishermen.

"We are working on new schemes for inland water transportation to attract tourists in the coastal districts, including purchase of mechanised boats and shelters," the minister added.