Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Apr 25: Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj on Monday April 25 visited the Malpe harbour and inspected the work on the jetty and slipway.
Speaking to reporters after holding discussions with officials, Madhwaraj said, "Dredging and desilting work is going on. It should have been completed by February, but even though it is April now, the work is still pending. By the end of this month, we will complete as much as possible, and resume the work later in September.
"This project is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 2.2 crore, wherein 90,000 cubic metres of desilting has to be done from a depth of 10,000 metres from sea level. As the machineries came late, the work got delayed and fishermen faced problems. Out of the total project cost, tender has been allotted for work worth Rs 1.87 crore. I have instructed the officials not to clear the payment without my approval."
Regarding the slipway project, he said, "The work is in the final stage. It will be used for repair and painting of boats. The slipway has a capacity to bear 60 tonnes of weight and 13 boats can be accomodated at a time. The project is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 2.38 crore, out of which Rs 1.52 crore is from Tebma Shipyard under its CSR funds. The slipway will start operating from April 30 on a trial basis. This is the only slipway in Karnataka and it is based on the Kochi model."
Regarding jetty work, he said, "The third phase is going on. We had given proposal for a jetty that can accomodate 1,500 boats, but now only 670 boats can be anchored. The entire project is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 50 crore."
He also informed that chief minister Siddaramaiah will be inaugurating both the jetty and the slipway once they are ready.
On the Padukere jetty he said, "A proposal of Rs 19 crore has been sent for the fourth phase of work on Malpe harbour. The Padukere jetty will be 500 metres long and a road will also be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lac.
"Construction of Malpe - Padukere bridge is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 14 crore under the State Finance Commission. The project should have completed by June but now we hope it will be ready by July. Payment of Rs 10.58 crore has already been done for the purpose. This bridge will connect three roads from three places, namely Uliyargoli, Kaup and Shantinagar. There is no shortage of funds."
Executive engineer of fisheries P L Rathore, CMC president Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje, vice-president Sandhya Pai and others present.