Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Aug 14: The Dakshina Kannada Meenugarara Sangha on Monday August 14 thanked the central government for giving its nod to the establishment of fisheries harbour at Kulai and releasing funds for the project, stating that with this, a long awaited dream of five decades had finally come closer to realization.
Addressing a press meet here, coordinator of the project and leader of the Sangha Ramachandra Baikampady said, "After a fight of fifty years, finally the central government has given the green signal to the construction of Kulai fisheries harbour. We thank the central and the state government for the land and the grant for the project.
"In 1965, the residents of New Mangaluru Port lost their land because of land acquisition law. At the time, as compensation, the then government had assured them that a new fisheries harbour would come up at Kulai. But later governments and their officials forgot their assurances.
"In 2015, the fishermen of Dakshina Kannada held a mass protest and forced the government to take up the issue seriously. Thereafter, under the leadership of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, we met central ministers Radha Mohan Singh and Nitin Gadkari and urged them to release funds for the fisheries harbour in Kulai. After two years of continuous attempts to get funds, now the central government has released Rs 199.46 crore and asked the director of New Mangalore Port to start the tender process. The state government has given sufficient land for the project," he said.
The new Kulai fisheries harbour will accomodate 600 traditional fishing boats and 450 machine boats. The harbour will have a high security system. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 230 crore.
"The project will start very soon. We will meet Nitin Gadkari and Radha Mohan Singh again to invite them and also the Prime Minister for the foundation laying ceremony," he added.
Lakshman Amin Kodikal, Yashvanth Mendon and Naveen Suvarna were present.