Fisheries among the priority sectors of State Government'

Mangalore, January 5: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday laid the foundation stones for constructing two fish markets at Kinnigoli and Bantwal on the outskirts of city.

Speaking on the occasion he said fisheries were among the priority sectors of the State Government. He also promised that the Government will construct 10 modern fish markets for women in three coastal districtal Karnataka.

All fish markets would be built with financial grants from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, and the State Government, he said adding that the former would share 90 per cent of the cost of the market and the balance would be borne by the latter.

The market at Kinnigoli would be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 76.66 lakh and in Bantwal at an estimated cost of Rs. 52 lakh.

The other fish markets would come up at Padubidri, Katpady, Udupi, Uppunda, Baindoor, Karwar, Shirali, and Ankola.

Meanwhile, a press note released on the occasion by Karnataka Coastal Development Authority under whose auspices the 10 markets would be built, said that the markets would have toilets and bathrooms for women. In addition, they would have a restroom, a changing room and a dining room. The markets would have stainless steel trays for selling fish. They would be high-tech markets with proper seating arrangements.

The market at Kinnigoli in Mangalore would have 36 fresh-fish selling counters and six dry-fish selling counters. The building at Bantwal would have 24 fresh-fish and four-dry fish selling counters.

Chairman of the authority B. Nagaraj Shetty said that it had been planned to complete the market in 18 months from now.

The press release said that a team of the authority had visited Malwan in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra to see the modern fish markets and study the facilities provided there. The drawing of 10 fish markets had been prepared by consulting experts.