196.51 crores for Kulai jetty: Nalin

Mangaluru: 196.50 has been granted for the construction of the all weather fishing jetty at Kulai and the tenders will be called for soon through NMPT, informed MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Sunday.

He was speaking at a press conference at Circuit House and explained that this jetty will be the second all weather jetty in Mangaluru. The plan will be realized through ‘Sagar Mala Yojana’ of the Ministry of Shipping, central animal husbandry department, dairy farming department and in association with fisheries department and financial involvement of New Mangaluru and Karnataka government. The jetty will be constructed in the 10 acre government land in Kulai. No private land will be acquired for its construction, he explained.

The project will be beneficial for the fishermen in Sasihitlu, Thoku, Surathkal, Baikampady, Panambur, Thannirbavi and Chitrapura regions. The jetty will function throughout the year, he said.

3^rd Kendriya Vidyalaya sanctioned

A third Kendriya Vidyalaya has been granted for Dakshina Kannada district which is considered an education hub and will start it academic year from the next from NITK premises. Mangaluru already has 2 Kendriya Vidyala’s at Ekkur and NMPT respectively. In response to my request, the central human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar has sanctioned another Kendriya Vidyala for the district. It will be established in a 5 acre land of NITK, informed Nalin.

Kulshekar-Karkala highway tender in December

All work pertaining land acquisition for 4 laning the highway from Kulshekar to Karkala will be completed by September and the tenders will be called for in December. The width of the road will be 45 meters and two bypasses will be created at Gurupur and Moodbidri respectively. Other than the new bridge costing 33 crore rupees being constructed at Gurpur currently, another bridge too will be constructed here, he explained.

Opportunity for more than 600 boats

There is opportunity for 325 mechanized boats and 300 country boats at the Kulai all weather fishing jetty. The central shipping ministry will bear 98.25 crore rupees (50%), the central animal husbandry, dairy farming and fisheries department and New Mangaluru will provide 88.45 crore rupees (45%) and Karnataka state government will provide 9.53 crore rupees (5%) of the project. The project will include 2 auction centres and trap and boat repair divisions.

This jetty will create direct employment to 2,500 local fishermen and indirect jobs for another 2,500 people. The construction work will be completed within 2 years, informed MP Nalin Kumar.