Mangaluru to get three new projects at Rs 695 crore budget under PM Gati Shakti: NMPA
Mangaluru: The New Mangalore Port Authority Chairman, Dr A V Ramana on Tuesday said that three new projects will be implemented at a cost of Rs 695 crores under PM Gati Shakti.
The projects include mechanization of Berth No.14 for handling container and other cargos in DBFOT basis in collaboration with JSW, at a cost of Rs 281 crores, construction of new Berth No.17 for handling bulk & dry-bulk cargos at Rs 217 crores and construction of fishing harbour at Kulai at Rs 197 crores.
The PM Gati Shakti was launched in October 2021 at a cost of Rs 100 lakh crores as a National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity aimed at developing infrastructure while reducing logistics costs and boost economy. This includes 16 various ministries such as shipping, waterways, railways, roadways and so on for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
Speaking at the press meet here, Dr A V Ramana noted that the PM Gati Shakti incorporates the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Inland Waterways, Dry/Land Ports, UDAN, textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defense corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters and Agri-zones. He also said that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified 101 projects under the National Master Plan to enhance port connectivity with consumption and production centres.
Adding to it, he noted that as many as 111 waterways sprawling in 24 states across the country have been declared as National waterways.
“Due to semi-mechanized handling of containers, there was tremendous need for the augmentation of the port capacity in handling containers. Mechanized handling of containers at Berth No. 14 will satisfy this and boot the economy of Karnataka’s hinterlands,” he said.
Further, he added that NMPA has signed a Concession Agreement with JSW Infrastructure Limited to develop and operate container terminal on PPP model at a cost of Rs 281 crores which will generate a considerable amount of direct and indirect employment.
“As the containers are clean cargo, higher containerization will lead to environmental benefits for the port maritime and shore ecosystems. The mechanization is also expected to increase efficiency and thereby reduce turnaround time, pre-berthing delay and dwell time in the Port. Thus, mechanization facilitates multi-modal connectivity by reducing logistics cost and seamless supply,” said Dr A V Ramana.
Explaining the need for mechanization, he further noted that the Port will need a deep draft Berth to handle the dry bulk and break-bulk cargos arriving through large ships of 60,000 dwt and above.
“The modern-day vessel sizes require 14 meters draft or above and lack thereof would bring down the trade potential of the hinterland. As it is necessary to build sufficient infrastructure so that the trade can be facilitated, the Port proposed to construct a new Berth No.17 for multi-purpose cargo handling,” he said.
Also, he added that the estimated cost of the project is expected to generate employment opportunities to around 2000 people. As per the DPR, berth number 17 is expected to handle 131 vessels for different types of bulk cargo and generate total tonnage of 4.73 MTPA. The Port stands to earn wharfage amount of Rs 16.52 crore and VR income of Rs 17.92 crore. According to the aims of the project, the implementation of it will satisfy the requirement and provide necessary infrastructure for improving trade and employment in the region.
In addition to it, the NMPA is working towards construction of a Fishing Harbour at Kulai near the Port vicinity at a cost of Rs 197 crores.
“It will contribute to increasing the fish and crustacean supplies to domestic and foreign markets. The project is estimated to employ 2720 sea-going fishermen and 1280 persons in shore-based establishments and allied industries. Fishermen are expected to earn an income of about Rs 55.27 crores. The sale of fish and other products will bring in revenue of Rs 192.20 crore with an export bill of Rs 33.88 crores,” said the NMPA Chairman.
He added that, “the project will decongest the over-crowded old fishing harbour at Mangaluru and offer safe sanctuary for fishing boats, especially during monsoon and rough sea conditions.”
The Kulai fisheries harbour is expected to handle about 27,100 tons of fish valued at Rs 172.56 crore at boat side prices, bestowing socio-economic benefit to the society.
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'Engineered narratives': West Bengal guv on alleged molestation charges against him
Kolkata, May 2: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday said he will not be cowed down by “engineered narratives” and the "truth shall triumph” after TMC leaders claimed that a woman working at Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of molestation against him.
In a statement, the Governor said, “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal,”
To the Raj Bhavan staff "who expressed solidarity with him following some derogatory narratives that were circulated by two disgruntled employees as agents of political parties," a communication by Raj Bhawan said.
The Governor’s statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed this evening in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose.
Though police sources said they received a verbal complaint, there was no official word on whether a formal complaint had been registered.
“BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose was accused of molesting a woman. How utterly appalling and Horrifying. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today. The complainant has been taken to the Hare Street police station for filing a complaint. The woman has accused the Governor of molesting her. Shocking and disgraceful,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said in a post on X.
Fellow TMC MP Saket Gokhale also posted on his X account regarding the issue.
West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said it is “shameful” that the Governor has maligned his post and has used it to “torture a woman”.
“It is appalling and shocking to see such an incident. This is the same Governor who had reached out to Sandeshkhali to talk about women’s rights and Nari Shakti. This is shameful that the Governor sought undue advantages in the pretext of giving her a permanent job. We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be addressing rallies in Bengal tomorrow to react on this issue,” she said.
According to sources in the Governor's House, the "woman employee with the help of her alleged boyfriend who is also an employee of the Raj Bhavan was blocking complaints (from people) being sent to the Election Commission of India.
"When she was reprimanded for that, she went outside and alleged molestation. She is in the habit of throwing tantrums against her colleagues because of some disease," a Raj Bhavan official said.
The West Bengal Governor and the TMC government have shared an acrimonious relationship since he assumed office in November 2022 and had several run-ins on various issues.
The BJP said it has to be seen whether this a “conspiracy by the TMC” or has an “iota of truth in it”.
“We all know that the TMC is politically cornered on the issue of SSC scam and is looking for a breathing space. So this needs to be seen whether this is a conspiracy by the TMC or it has any iota of truth in it,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said.
BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of molesting a woman. How utterly APPALLING and HORRIFYING. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj…
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 2, 2024
Shameful that a constitutional office holder should try to prejudice an impartial investigation by attacking the motive of the complainant. We have seen this happen in that infamous Saturday Hearing of the Supreme Court. Respect women! https://t.co/E6eJLQvFXO
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) May 2, 2024
