Mangalore : Minister for Ports and Textile, Baburao Chinchansoor said that, with the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB) the state government will implement eight-year pilot project worth Rs 911 crore in the coastal belt for the development of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.

Speaking to the media on Friday Sept 19, Minister said that Ullal which has been affected by the sea erosion will be benefitted by the three-level project. Apart from it, the work on four in-shore berms is in progress and done with an estimated cost of Rs 25.51 crore. The silt collection work will begin from the month of October.

He also said that, the re-construction of breakwaters will begin in the month of October 2014 with an estimated cost of Rs 46 crores and the tender process of two offshore reefs worth Rs 88 crores is in the completing stage.

The Minister said five minor ports out of 11 will be developed with private partnership under new port policy. A proposal of dedicated jetty worth Rs 50 crores will be sanctioned within a week for Lakshadweep Group of Companies.

A land is given to a Hyderabad based company in an estimated cost of Rs 511.30 crores under lease to develop Honnavar Port Limited of Honnavar, 75,000 square metres of land is given to Renuka Sugars to develop with an estimated cost of Rs 46 crores at Manki.

A proposal to develop Tadadi port with an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crores has been submitted. The proposal of developing Belekeri port with the partnership of Ashriya Limited with a cost of Rs 2,000 crore has been discussed with CM.

The Port department has enmarked the fund of Rs 36.63 crores for various development works in three districts. Further the government would release Rs 22.43 crores to Uttara Kannada, Rs 4.50 crores to Dakshina Kannada, Rs 4 crores to Udupi and Rs 5.70 crores to inland water transportation, he added.

Chinchansoor said that, second-level jetty at Karavar port will be extended at a cost of Rs 1,500 crores with private partnership.

The amount of Rs 7.15 crore has been spent to build temporary retaining walls to prevent sea erosion in the year 2014-15 and has no lack of funds to check sea erosion problem.

He also informed that he will visit Mangalore or Udupi on September 27, 28 and 29 to inaugurate various development works of the department.