The Uttara Kannada district ports have got a bumper deal this time as the Congress government is keen on popularising and developing ports in the state.
“We will develop a new port at Honnavar at a cost of `600 crore. This apart, the government has got a Rs 900-crore loan sanctioned from the Asian Development Bank for the development of existing ports at Mangalore, Udupi and Karwar,” Minister for Textile and Ports Baburao Chinchansoor said.
He spoke to reporters here on Sunday while inspecting the Karwar (Baithkol) port.
The state government has proposed to develop the new port at Honnavar under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. “The work on the project is likely to start by the end of December. Union Minister Oscar Fernandes will preside over the foundation-laying ceremony,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, leaders of the fishing community put forward a proposal to construct breakwaters and protection walls at Baithkol port.
‘Five lakh jobs in Textiles’
The government has envisaged a plan to create five lakh jobs in the textile sector over a period of five years, Chinchansoor said.
“China, Japan and Malaysia gave prominence to the textile industry to address the unemployment issue and our government will do the same here. People will soon see the textile industry thrive,” he added.