Udupi fish market work to be completed in 15 days – Madhwaraj
Manipal: The construction work of Udupi fish market will be completed in 15 days, said Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA of Udupi constituency and parliamentary secretary to Minister of Revenue. He was speaking at the review meeting on the progress of the projects implemented by the Fisheries department chaired by Abhayachandra Jain, Minister for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Services. The meeting was held in Dr V S Acharya Auditorium, Rajathadri, Manipal here on July 13.
The construction work of the fish market is experiencing delays due to lack of coordination between officials of different departments. The Minister for Fisheries has ordered the completion of the pending construction work of the fish market within 15 days. The minister has also warned of initiating stringent action against the concerned officials if the work was not completed within the given time frame. Structural changes have been initiated in existing plan and the fish market can accommodate 173 fisherwomen.
Officials were also directed to initiate notification of Madikal breakwater for cabinet approval. They have also been directed to draft a proposal for setting up an office for the deputy director of the Fisheries department in Udupi.
Fisherwomen have requested provision of cold storage facilities in the fish market. Technical issues on the difference of amount payable to loans availed by fisherwomen will be solved immediately, said Jain.
The fishing community in Malpe has demanded port expansion to stage 4 at Malpe. Stage 3 has been completed but the port still cannot accommodate all boats. An L shape breakwater has to be constructed in stage 4 to accommodate boats in the sea during the rainy season. Officials were directed to conduct a preliminary survey for stage 4. The work order has been initiated for Koderi port construction. Trail is on for the slipway constructed in stage 3 and maintenance of the slipway will be given to local associations through the tender process.
Abhayachandra Jain, distributing relief funds to families of two fishermen – Ganesh Puthran and Bhagga Markala – who had died during fishing activities, directed the officials to complete pending works. Relief fund which has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh was distributed to the families of the two fishermen.
B Hiriyanna Chatrabettu, President of Fisheries Development Corporation; Veronica Cornelio, Chairperson of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited; Minister for Urban Development and Minister in-charge District Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLC Kota Shrinivas Poojary, CMC President Meenakshi Madhav Bannaje and others were present for the review meeting.
