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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
