Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Feb 23: In his maiden trip after assuming office as minister for fisheries, ports, and inland water transport S Angara visited Old Mangaluru Port on Tuesday, February 23 and sought information on various problems of the fisherfolk.
Post inaugurating the one-day workshop on Fish Farmers' Producer Organisations at Matsyagandhi convention hall, here, minister Angara said, "After assuming office as minister of the fisheries department, this is my first visit to the old port. I witnessed several problems here, I will make sincere efforts to solve the problem of fishermen, also focus to improve basic facilities at the old port. I will always work to bring pride to my position."
He also informed that he will hold a meeting with officials from the fisheries department and the fishermen organisations to address the problems of fishermen.
"The government is not permitted to release the entire funds required for the project. But, the projects can be successfully completed on a lesser budget if done with a vision in mind. There are as many as 2,500 mechanised and traditional boats in the old port. However, only 1,500 boats can be secured alongside the jetty. Nearly, 1,000 boats should be secured behind these boats," Angara said.
"Along with bringing grants from the government, cooperation from the fisherfolk is also very essential," he added.
He also said that he will again visit the old port in the first week of April.
During the occasion, he also distributed the various facilities of the fisheries department for the year 2020-21 to the beneficiaries.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said, "There is a necessity of carrying out dredging works along the jetty constructed in the first phase and second phase. The fishermen are facing issues in the sea borders of Maharastra and Kerala. The fishermen from Karnataka have to pay a hefty fine, if they cross the borders, hence it is vital to resolve this issue by holding a talk with the union government."
Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) chairman, Nithin Kumar said, "Mangaluru and Malpe are prominent fishing centres in the state. But, the jetty at the old port has issues. Though the expansion in two phases is completed, the government in 2010 had given approval of Rs 57 crore for the expansion of jetty in the third phase. However, as the case was filed in the National Green Tribunal it was delayed by four years. Later, the estimated cost of the project went up to Rs 80 crore."
"Now the financial department has approved Rs 22 crore to complete the basic facility works. The cabinet has to sanction the amount," he said.
MLA Bharath Shetty, corporator Abdul Lathif, port department joint director, Thippeswamy, fisheries department director, A Ramachari, and DK fisheries department deputy director, P Parshwanath were present.