First phase of Ullal sea wall work to begin soon'

Malpe, August 7: Minister for Ports and Muzrai Kota Srinivas Poojary has said that the work on construction of the first phase of a permanent sea wall to prevent sea erosion would be launched at Ullal in Dakshina Kannada district shortly.

He was speaking at a function to mark the inauguration of the MLA's Office at Malpe here. Later, he inaugurated the new road divider constructed on the Citizen Circle-Vadabhandeshwara Road and the street lamps on the road.

Mr. Poojary said the project of construction of permanent sea wall was being taken up at a cost of Rs. 911 crore. This project was being financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The construction of the permanent sea walls would go a long way in solving the problem of sea erosion, which was a permanent feature in the coastal districts of the State.

The Government was giving importance for the development of fisheries harbours in Udupi district. An amount of Rs. 9 crore had been allocated for the development of fisheries harbours at Hejmady, Kodikanyana, and Hungarcutta in the district. The Government was giving priority to the welfare of the fishermen in the State. It had allotted Rs. 24 crore for providing housing for the fishermen. An amount of Rs. 60,000 each would be provided by the Government for the construction of 4,000 houses for the fishermen, Mr. Poojary said.

MLAs Raghupati Bhat and Lalaji Mendon, Deputy Commissioner M.T. Reju, president of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) Kiran Kumar, vice-president Bharati Chandrashekhar, former president Somashekhar Bhat, former vice-president Sudhakar Shetty, and councillor Yashpal Suvarna were present.