Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (MD)

Mangalore, Sep 20: "The day when coastal region will see development is finally near. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has shown a soft corner for three coastal places - Mangalore, Udupi and Karwar. He is the main reason for funding port development works," said state port minister Baburao Chinchansur, at Old Port office, here on Friday September 19.

"Under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project, Rs 911 crore has been sanctioned to combat sea erosion and the project period is estimated up to eight years (2011-2018). The project will be divided into three phases," he said.

"The first phase of the project will be in Ullal at an estimated cost of Rs 223.32 crore, it is a four-year plan which will extend up to December 2016. Under Tranche-I construction, work on four inshore berms at an estimated cost of Rs 25.21 crore has been started. Inshore berm 4 is already in progress and sand storage work will commence from October. The process of tender for the construction at an estimated cost of Rs 88 crore of two offshore reefs under the Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Programme to prevent sea erosion in Karnataka is in the final stage," he said.

"Reconstruction of breakwater will be started from October and agreement has been made at an estimated sum of Rs 46 crore. Sand nurturing will be done if necessary at Rs 18 crore," he added.

"Eleven spots have been identified to take up work at an estimated cost of Rs 428 crore under the tranche-II of Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Programme to prevent sea erosion in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts," said the minister.

Regarding private developers tying up with the government, Baburao said, "Private developers have come forward to develop five minor ports in the state under the Karnataka State Port Development Policy 2014. Honnavar, Manki, Mavinakurve Basavaraj Durga Island, Belekeri and Thadadi ports in Uttara Kannada district will be developed under public private partnership (PPP) model. Tender process has been started for the phase II Karwar port jetty extension work, which will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore."

He also said that discussions were held to set up a dedicated jetty for a Lakshadweep company at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore.

Minister Baburao briefed about his programme scheduled on September 27, 28 and 29 when he will be laying foundation stones for the construction of permanent barrier at Kaup constituency, Malpe commercial jetty extension and developmental works at Udupi constituency, construction of permanent barrier at Kundapur and Byndoor constituency.

Answering question regarding the sea erosion problem at Ullal, Chinchansur said, "Work on the construction of barriers should not be stopped and no matter what the cost is, CM Siddaramaiah has promised to release the fund and so far Rs 15 crore has been sanctioned."