K'taka to seek Rs 30cr for M'lore fisheries harbour

The Karnataka government has proposed to expand the fisheries harbour at Mangalore at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore.

At present, the fisheries harbour which can accommodate 1,000 boats is congested. Once the expansion is complete, it will make way for berthing another 1,500 boats, a senior official in the department of fisheries said.

Said H S Veerappa Gowda, director, department of fisheries, "The fisheries department had earlier approached the Centre with a proposal to undertake the third phase of development of the port at Bunder in Mangalore. However, the Centre had advised us to first complete the second phase of the port, which we have just completed. We will now make a fresh proposal to the Centre."

A detailed techno-economic feasibility study is being conducted by the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fisheries (CICEF).

As per the preliminary estimate, the third phase of the expansion will cost Rs 30 crore. It will be undertaken under a Central-sponsored scheme with about 50 per cent contribution from the state government.

However, the port expansion depends on the transfer of adequate land from the department of inland water transport, which controls the minor ports in the state, he told Business Standard.

The third phase of the expansion includes the construction of a new wharf, 700-metre long and 50-metre wide, on the southern side of the existing port and a boat berthing facility at Bengre, a small island near Mangalore.