Karnataka plans minor ports: minister.

A pilot project along coastal Karnataka costing around Rs. 911 crore would be implemented with the help of the Asian Development bank (ADB), state's Minister for Port, Textile and Inland transport, Baburao Chinchanasur has said.

The project, which will take eight years, would help in the overall development of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts, he said in a statement. The work of four inshore beams to control sea erosion in Ullal was in progress and reconstruction of breakwaters would begin next month.

The tender process of two off-shore reefs was in the final stage, he said. As part of the new port policy five out of the 11 minor ports would be developed with private participation. An amount of Rs 36.63 crore has been set aside by the port department for development works in the three districts including Rs. 5.7 crore for inland water transportation.

A sum of around Rs. 7.15 crore have been spent so far this financial year to build temporary retaining walls to check sea erosion.

He also said that the second level jetty at Karwar port with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,500 crore would be taken up soon.

BS