Dredging work in coastal Karnataka to commence next month: Minister

Mangalore, Aug 20 (UNI) Karnataka Minister for Fisheries and Endowment B Nagaraja Shetty today announced that the long pending dredging work of the ports in the coastal Karnataka would begin next month.

Participating in an interactive meeting, organized by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here, he said that Rs 10 Cr had been released with Centre and State sharing the cost equally.

Strongly objecting to the proposal of diversion of Netravathy River, the Minister said that the people of Daxina Kannada were totally against any diversion of the river which was their lifeline.

Instead, he would strongly favour the project of linking the west flown rivers. "We will not allow to take up the river diversion project," he announced.

Mr Shetty said that the government had released Rs three crore for purchase of modern equipment for government Wenlock and Lady Goshen hospital here and orders have been placed. The New Children Centre donated by Infosys at the cost of Rs 5.25 crore would be inaugurated on November 14 next, he added.

He said that the district administration was seriously thinking of introducing dress code in all educational institutions in the district and banning of bringing mobile phones inside school and college premises.

He said that a delegation of BJP leaders and ministers from the state would meet both the Prime Minister and the Union Railway Minister on August 21 and 22 to bring pressure on the Centre for early commencement of passenger train service between Mangalore and Bangalore and approval of Rs 132 crore permanent sea protection wall project besides other pending proposals of the district.

UNI