Pic: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Feb 24: The state government has released Rs 21 crore for various development works like roads and bridges, informed minister for fisheries, sports and youth affairs and district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj on Friday, February 24.
Addressing mediapersons at the press club, the minister said that Rs 5 crore will be used for bridge at Thimmannu Kudru in Kemmannu panchayat, Rs 5 crore for Ambagilu-Manipal-Udyavar four lane road, Rs 1 crore for the construction of duct and divider on Ambagilu–Manipal-Udyavar-Malpe road, Rs 2 crore for widening the Kenjur-Nalkur road, Rs 4 crore for pass Kudru bridge and Rs 2 crore for Brahmavar-Barkur road.
Speaking on the diesel subsidy, Madhwaraj informed that the subsidy amount would be transferred directly into the bank account of mechanized boat users. "The amount has been increased from Rs 7 to Rs 9.40 paisa per litre. A proposal had been sent to release Rs 33 crore as additional funds and Rs 20 crore were released. In total, the government released Rs 120 crores of additional fund for diesel subsidy," he said.
"Maharashtra has the highest number of mechanized boats at 10,000. Gujarat and Karnataka has 7,700 and 3,600 boats respectively. I am glad to inform that the state government is providing 90000 liters of diesel per person every year year," he said.
The minister further informed that the government had paid the interest subsidy rate of Rs 2.77 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 6.55 crore from 2013-14 to 2015-16. Nearly 10,780 beneficiaries have been benefited by the government. A proposal to settle pending claims will be added to the new bill, he said. He suggested that the union government should bear the responsibility of releasing funds for subsidy.
Madhwaraj also informed that a three-day ‘Udupi Matsya Mela-2017’ will be held from March 3 to 5 at Malpe beach by fisheries department under the aegis of Malpe Beach Development Committee.
Like every year, district administration, zilla panchayat, youth empowerment and sports department will organise state level 'Yuva Jana Mela' and 'Swami Vivekananda Rajya Yuva Award 2016-17' presentation function from March 3 to 5. I request the public to participate in large numbers, he concluded.