Karwar port will be developed at a cost of Rs 1200 Cr: Minister

Malpe, Karnataka, Sept 8 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has decided to develop the Karwar Port at a cost of Rs 1200 crore under Private participation, Minister for Port and Environment Krishna J Palemar said today.

Talking to newsmen after visiting Malpe Fisheries Port here, he said that the tender process was expected to be completed within next three month.

He said that it had been decided to develop 10 major ports in the State during the next five year involving private participation.

The development works included construction of additional jetty, landing area for fisheries vessels and drudging work of the port.

The minister said that the government had already released Rs 12 crore for the third phase expansion of Malpe Fisheries Port, construction of additional area for parking the fisheries port at Baputhota inside the port and drudging work.

Replying a query, Mr Palemar said that the drudging work at port here had already been taken up and one third of the drudging work had already been completed for which the government had sanctioned total Rs 10 crore.

On Tebma Ship building company which had already begun its ship building activities despite stiff opposition from the local fisheries community for the alleged 'breaking of the assurances' made with the state government to construct two exclusive slipway for the fisheries boat for repair and other activities, the Minister said that he would go through all the details about the agreement made between the government and the company. If there was any violation of the agreement by the company, the government would take up suitable action. The ministry was of strong view that any development should not harm the interest of the fisheries folk, he said adding that the ministry was committed to protect the interests of the community like the protection of the farmer's interests in the state. "We will not allow Tebma to cheat the fisheries community.

If there was any lapse on the part of the officials, the ministry would not hesitate to initiate actions against them, he clarified.

Mr Palemar, who also holds the Environment portfolio, in reply to a query, warned that he would not give any relaxation on the issue of violation of environmental protection by the most polluted industries.

When his attention was drawn to the Udupi Power Company by M/s.

Lanco for its alleged fraud in the environmental clearance, he assured that he would go into every details and strictly take action against the company if it found guilty. " I will go though all the related files and re inquire the issue and reconsider," he said.

"There are five most pollutant industries in the district out of listed 130 such industries in the state. We will keep a close watch on these industries and strict actions would be initiated against any violation of environmental issues without bending to any type of influence," he declared.

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