Kalam stresses creation of coastal PURAs

Kollam, Dec 20 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today stressed the need for creating Coastal PURAs (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) for enhancing the quality of life of the people in the coastal region.

''What is needed in the coastal region is the creation of coastal PURA which will increase the earning capacity and enhance the quality of life of the citizens living in the region,'' he said at the inauguration of the Amrita Sethu, a bridge connecting tsunami-hit Alappad island with the mainland here.

Sharing a detailed study on the design of coastal PURA in Kerala, Dr Kalam said former HUDCO chairman P S Rana had made a detailed study on the development of coastal PURA for the state.

Explaining the design, he said jetties, small and medium-sized boat landing centres should be constructed on the coast in the interval of 10 to 15 km range. Each of these will have a good link road to the main coastal road. It should also have Community Sheds for repair of nets, storing the nets and related equipments of the fishing community, he said.

Pointing out that all the fishing villages should be linked with the District Headquarters through the Broadband fibre and wireless connectivities, Dr Kalam said the fishing community should be provided with broadcasting facilities through satellite radios and HAMSAT network.

''Mobile cell phone with GPS facility may be provided for each boat for emergency communication. This will also provide the local fishing population data, local meteorological and local sea state data through SMS from the Village Knowledge Centres obtained from near by Meteorological station, Disaster Management stations, District Headquarter station and the other service providers,'' he added.

The President also said the government should facilitate the training of fishing community in cost-effective safe fishing techniques, application of technology for improving the productivity, storage and preservation systems and cost-effective marketing. Stating out that when these were realised, it would enable the local population to create economic centres such as cold storage infrastructure. ''This will also provide alternative employment- oriented schemes during non-fishing days and for people who are involved in agriculture and other activities. Such economically- oriented job creating activities should be the objective of our rural development schemes,'' he said.

The 'Amrita Sethu' is constructed by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math as part of the tsunami rehabilitation. Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, Fisheries Minister S Sarma and Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran were among those who attended the function.

UNI XR PN KD VV1810