The Hindu

Mangalore, Mar 15: The National Institute of Technology - Karnataka, Surathkal, has decided to set up a centre for disaster management in association with Dakshina Kannada district administration, according to Sandeep Sancheti, director of the institute.

He speaking at a seminar on "Industrial development in coastal Karnataka - prospects and opportunities" organised by Mangalore University All College Students' Association here on Wednesday.

Dr. Sancheti said that the district administration was likely to release its share of funds to set up the centre by this month-end. Besides, the NIT-K had plans to set up a centre for energy and environment and a centre for materials development. In addition to this, the institute would start six M.Tech. programmes soon, he said.

Dr. Sancheti said that there was big scope for the improvement of the information technology sector in Mangalore.

M.R. Vasudeva, director, Mangalore (Bajpe) airport, said that since the airport had two runways and the passenger traffic was on the rise, a flying club could be set up to train pilots and engineers of aviation industry.

Since international flight operations had begun at the airport, the city needed tour and travel agents and guides to cater to international and domestic tourists, he said. A.G. Pai, Chief Operating Officer, Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) Ltd., in his keynote address said that 50 firms had shown interest to invest in the MSEZ project in areas related to manufacturing and services sector.

The project once implemented fully would give a boost to the economy of coastal Karnataka, he said.

K.S. Balachandra, senior vice-president (technical), Nagarjuna Power Corporation Ltd.,and J.P. Menezes, president, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke.