Mangalore :  B Ramanath Rai Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environmenthas said that the Central government has released Rs 42 crore for Dakshina Kannada under Central Road Fund (CRF) to develop roads. He was speaking in an interaction programme organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) in association with Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), here on Saturday.

Ramanath Rai said that excessive rainfall in the district has affected the road development work. “Still, we have requested the Union Highway Minister Oscar Fernandes to give prominence for road developments, especially to develop roads which connect Mangalore with Bangalore and Mysore. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has plans to begin road surface development and tunnel road construction at Shiradi on NH-48,” he said.

The minister also said that the second phase of the land acquisition for Mangalore International Airport will be started at the earliest. For Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Union government has decided to distribute scientific price for the land owners and work will be taken up. The connecting roads of New Mangalore Airport will be developed soon. There are opportunities for the establishment of industries at EPIP in Ganjimutt, he said. Health tourism

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that Mangalore Wenlock Hospital will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 15 crore. In Mangalore and Ulllal region, polyclinics will be established for every 50,000 population. Meanwhile, he said that ‘Janaushadhi Kendras’ will be started in every taluk to provide generic medicine to people. The road stretch between Infotech IT Park, Mudipu and Thokkottu will be widened using an amount of Rs 7.5 crore.

Earlier, FKCCI President R Shivakumar said that politicians should show interest to provide facilities to industrialists. Compared to Kerala or Goa, the road condition is very bad in Karnataka. FKCCI has signed 37 MoUs which amounts to about Rs 1,700 crores in coastal states. Out of this, 19 industries have already started functioning. But, we lack facilities, he said. A memorandum was submitted to the ministers on the occasion.

FKCCI Vice President Tallam R Dwarakanath, District Coordination Committee Chairman Sudhakar Shetty and KCCI Vice President Nigam B Vasani were present.