The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka institute plans disaster management centre

Mangalore March 14 The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) at Surathkal, near here, is planning to start a centre for disaster management, according to Prof Sandeep Sancheti, Director of NITK.

Speaking at a seminar on `Industrial development of coastal Karnataka', organised by the All-College Students' Association of Mangalore University, here on Wednesday, Prof Sancheti said that NITK has recently resolved to start a disaster management centre with the help of the district administration.

Passengers Handling

The district administration will provide the seed money for the centre. The centre will be started soon, he said. The institute will also start a centre for energy and environment and a centre for material development, he added.

Mr M.A. Baskarachar, Deputy Chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT), said that the aim is to make New Mangalore a 60 million tonne port in the next five years.

The port has set a target of becoming an 80 million tonne port in the next 25 years. The port handled around 35 million tonnes of cargo in the last fiscal, he said. Mr M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Director, Mangalore, said that the number of passengers being handled at the airport has increased in Mangalore.

In 2006, the airport handled around 5.88-lakh passengers. The operation of flights to various destinations in the Gulf could help boost medical and education tourism in coastal Karnataka, he said.

Capt J.P. Menezes, President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI); Mr A.G. Pai, Chief Operating Officer of Mangalore SEZ Company Ltd; and Mr A. Srinivasa Rao, former President of KCCI; spoke on the occasion.

More Stories on : Education | Natural Calamities | Shipping

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page