Rs 196.51 crore for fishing harbour near Mangaluru

Mangaluru: The much awaited all weather fisheries harbour at Kulai is likely to be a reality soon with the Central government sanctioning the Rs 196.51 crore project.

The harbour will come up at Hosabettu-Kulai, in the outskirts of Mangaluru. Local fishermen had been demanding a harbour here as it would not only ease the pressure on the Old Port at Mangaluru but would also help the fishermen to take shelter during rough weather.

Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the Union government has given sanction to the Rs 196.51 crore project of which 50 (Rs 98.25 crore) would be provided under Sagarmala. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries along with New Mangalore Port Trust would provide 45 per cent (Rs 88.43 crore) and the remaining 5 per cent (Rs 9.83 crore) would come from the state government. He said the all weather harbour would  be able to accommodate 275 to 300 boats.

"The project needs 11 acres of land. There is no need of any fresh acquisition as the land is already with the government," he added.

The harbour would have two fish auction halls, a place to repair nets and another to repair boats. A rest room would also be constructed for the fishermen. "This would help fishermen of Sasihitlu, Thokur, Surathkal, Baikampady, Panamburu, Tanir Bavi and Chitrapura village," he said. The project is likely to provide employment to about 2,500 local fishermen.