The Hindu Business Line : Karwar port bags big chunk of ASIDE aid

KARWAR port, one of the important minor ports along coastal Karnataka, seems to have got a major chunk of funds under the ASIDE (Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and other Allied Activities) scheme for infrastructure development and other related activities.

Financial assistance has been given for the establishment of a warehouse with fumigation facility for cashew, and for the implementation of an International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) facility. Apart from improving infrastructure inside the port premises, steps have also been taken to improve roads around the port.

Official sources told Business Line that the project cost for the establishment of the warehouse with fumigation facility for cashew had been estimated at Rs 2 crore. An amount of Rs 1 crore had already been released for this work.

With more and more ships calling at Karwar Port, the Government decided to set up the International Ship and Port Security facility there. Of the project cost of Rs 2.60 crore, the port will get Rs 1.4 crore under the scheme. Of this, Rs 40 lakh has already been released for taking up the work.

Considering the need for development of roads around the port, Rs 1.46 crore has been released under the scheme. Already Rs 1 crore has been released. Sources said all these projects were in various stages of implementation at Karwar port.

Fisheries harbours

Funds have also been earmarked for taking up dredging activities and for improving facilities at fisheries harbours. With silt accumulation along the harbours posing a problem for fishermen, the Government is planning to use a grab dredger to remove silt at fisheries harbours. Under the ASIDE scheme, Rs 4.5 crore will be spent on dredging and on improving facilities at Bhatkal, Honnavar, Tenginagundi, Kasarakod and Gangavali fisheries harbours in Uttara Kannada district.

At the recent Fishermen's National Conference in Mangalore, the Coastal Karnataka Fishermen's Action Committee had urged the Government to take up dredging at all the minor ports in the State.

In addition to these projects, the State-level export promotion committee has given its approval for providing infrastructure facilities at fish-landing centres at Old Mangalore Port. Of the project cost of Rs 90 lakh, the port will get Rs 80 lakh under the ASIDE scheme. The committee has also cleared a Rs 2.05-crore proposal for the re-construction of an auction hall and the construction of a fishermen gear shed at Malpe fisheries harbour in Udupi district.