Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 16: Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists' Union (DKWJU) organised an interactive meeting with minister for fisheries, sports and youth affairs, Pramod Madhwaraj here at Press Club on Wednesday, November 16.

Madhwaraj addressing the gathering spoke on issues pertaining to his department and developmental works under progress under his ministry in Dakshina Kannada and in the state.

3rd phase of fishing port extension

Speaking on the 3rd phase of the port Madhwaraj said "The work has stalled since the central government has not released its share of Rs 32 crore. Thus I have met union minister and urged him release the pending funds. The minister has in turn agreed to release Rs 10 crore now. As soon as the amount is released by the union government, the work will resume. If we spend another Rs 1.8 crore, about 50 % of the work will be complete. The extension of port can be used by the fishermen."

Football Turf Ground

"About Rs 25 lac has been sanctioned by department and I have given directed the officials to release another Rs 75 lac. There was land issue relating to this ground. MCC has solved this issue on August 30. Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo has been following up these two projects and requested to complete these projects at the earliest." Madhwaraj said briefing about Football Turf Ground.

International level swimming pool at Yemmekere

"The international swimming pool was estimated at Rs 4.99 crore in the initial stages. But later it was revised to Rs 12.5 crore. Thus I have formed a technical committee to estimate the exact cost required for the project. The committee consists of three honest retired executive engineers. If the project costs less than Rs 5 crore, we will take up the project. The project should be feasible with no compromise in quality." Madhwaraj said on the swimming pool project.

Sports policy

"Before forming the sports policy, I wanted to meet all the sports persons from all the districts and cover all the aspects. It would not be right to sit in Bengaluru and form the policy. Thus I have covered maximum districts and now the last meeting will be held in Belagavi. Forming a sports policy will involve the consent from all the departments like education and others. The new policy should be attractive and create security for the children who take up sports." Madhwaraj explained on sports policy.

"Since the students who take up sports, will not be able to give more time for their academics, they need to be given grace marks and other perks. Thus I want to form a policy which covers all the aspects. The policy should be implemented practically and not just remain on papers." he added.

"We had prepared a proposal from sports department with an estimate of Rs 100 crore. The proposal also includes projects for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. But the union minister for sports said that the union budget for sports for the country is Rs 900 crore. The state budget for sports is Rs 145 crore in Karnataka. Thus I have clearly said in the meeting that with such limited budget sports cannot be promoted in the country. The budget should be at least doubled in the next budget." he opined.

Inland fishing

"Inland fishing in the state is zero percent tapped whereas we have done excessive fishing in marine waters. It is the need of the hour to regulate marine fishing. Thus I have asked the central agriculture minister to hold meeting of fisheries ministers of all coastal states in the country and form a policy." Madhwaraj concluded.