Karnataka plans to implement minor ports policy

The Karnataka Government is planning to implement a policy for the development of minor ports in the State.

Presenting the Budget on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said some minor ports in the State would be developed through private participation to encourage export and import activities.

“With a view to encouraging commercial and industrial activity in the coastal areas of the State through development of small ports under public-private partnership and for providing suitable infrastructure facilities, it is proposed to enforce the Karnataka Minor Ports Policy,” he said.

(The more than 300-km-long Karnataka coast has 11 minor ports and a major port. Dakshina Kannada, Uudpi and Uttara Kannada districts form coastal Karnataka.)

FISHERIES Apart from developing infrastructure at minor ports, the Government is also planning to develop infrastructure at fisheries harbours. The Chief Minister mentioned in the budget that the construction of outer harbour with breakwater, near Madikala of Uppunda village, in Udupi’s Kundapura taluk would be taken up.

The expansion of jetty will be taken up at fish landing centre at Tengingudi in Bhatkal taluk of Uttar Kannada district, he said.

CALL CENTRE The Chief Minister said the call centre-based extension service will be provided to fishermen directly by consolidating information available at various levels.

Under the scheme, SIM cards will be provided to fishermen to facilitate free communication of details of governmental schemes, market prices, potential fishing zone and weather. He made an allocation of Rs 1 crore for this scheme during 2014-15.

He said that the action would be taken to improve hygienic conditions in eight fishing harbours and 20 fish landing centres along the coast as per the standards set by the European Union for import of food items. This project will be taken up with financial assistance from National Fisheries Development Board, he said.

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