Comprehensive Coastal Tourism Development Plan announced in Karnataka Budget
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that a Comprehensive Coastal Tourism Development Plan will be prepared to make better use of the tourism potential of Karnataka’s coastal districts.
Presenting the 2026–27 State Budget, the Chief Minister announced several initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism, fisheries, agriculture and infrastructure in the coastal region.
Under the proposed plan, connectivity between coastal tourist destinations will be improved through Sea Plane and Heli Taxi services in collaboration with aviation and water adventure tourism partners. Joy Ride and River Cruise activities will also be promoted at select locations.
To address diseases affecting arecanut and coconut crops, including leaf spot, yellow leaf disease, bud rot, black-headed caterpillar and whiteflies, community-based pest and disease control programmes will be taken up in association with universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
The value of free fishing equipment kits provided to fishermen will be increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 to encourage fishing activities. A Centre of Excellence will also be established at the Fisheries College in Mangaluru to promote biotechnology industries, innovative technologies and mariculture.
To encourage fish consumption and ensure availability of clean and quality fish products, Matsyadarshinis will be established in Belagavi, Davanagere, Hubballi and Chikkamagaluru. In addition, well-equipped fish markets will be constructed in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Bagalkote districts.
The government will allocate Rs 20 crore for the maintenance of fisheries link roads across the state. Fishermen will also be provided training to adopt modern technologies and improve fish production in rivers, lakes, farm ponds and reservoirs, thereby helping them secure stable income through inland fisheries.
For the safety of residents and school students in remote habitations of the Malnad and coastal regions, the government plans to construct 300 foot bridges.
To strengthen port and cargo movement infrastructure, a Comprehensive Multimodal Logistics Policy will be introduced. The government will also frame a Karnataka State Offshore Resources Development and Utilisation Policy to tap opportunities in cage fish farming and renewable energy generation in offshore areas.
The government has proposed the formation of development authorities for the overall development of Kukke Sri Subrahmanya Temple and Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple along with improvement of basic facilities.
The second phase of construction work at the Mangaluru Central Prison will be taken up during the current year. As announced in the previous budget, approval has been given to build a 300-bed hospital as part of the proposed medical college in Puttur.
A super speciality hospital will be established in Karwar at a cost of Rs 100 crore. Ten hostels, each with a capacity of 50, will be started for working women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Belagavi and Kalaburagi.
To support students from backward classes, 50 post-matric hostels with a capacity of 150 students each will be set up in districts including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Ballari.
The Chief Minister also announced that new police stations will be established at Mani and Sajipa Nadu in Dakshina Kannada district.
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Iran attacks oil tanker near Dubai; Trump warns of strikes on energy sites if Hormuz remains shut
Tel Aviv/Washington: Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
According to a Reuters report, the Kuwait-flagged tanker Al-Salmi is owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and was capable of carrying around 2 million barrels of crude. . It was struck in what authorities later described as a drone attack. The company said the incident occurred early Tuesday, causing a fire and hull damage. No injuries were reported and the fire was brought under control, Dubai authorities said .
Oil prices rose briefly following the attack and added to volatility in global energy markets. In the United States, retail gasoline prices crossed $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, according to data from GasBuddy, as crude prices moved above $101 per barrel.
Israel said it carried out missile strikes on military infrastructure in Tehran and on sites linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah in Beirut. Explosions were reported in parts of Tehran, with Iran’s Tasnim news agency saying power outages occurred in the eastern Pirouzi district following the blasts.
The Israel Defense Forces said four soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon. In recent days, three peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were also killed in separate incidents in the same area.
Iran’s military spokesperson said Tehran’s latest wave of missile and drone strikes targeted US military positions at five bases in the region and sites in Israel. Thousands of troops from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to US officials, expanding Washington’s military options even as diplomatic efforts continue.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Reuters Trump wants an agreement with Iranian leaders before a revised April 6 deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, adding that talks were progressing, while public statements from Tehran differed from private communications.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said proposals received through intermediaries were “unrealistic” and maintained that Iran was focused on defending itself.
In a social media post, Trump said that if a deal is not reached soon and the strait is not reopened, the US would strike Iran’s electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island. However, a report in The Wall Street Journal said Trump had told aides he may be willing to end the military campaign even if the strait remains largely closed and address reopening it later. The White House referred to earlier remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the strait would be opened “one way or another.”
The administration has also requested an additional $200 billion in funding for the conflict, a proposal that faces opposition in the US Congress.
