Bengaluru: Raja Venugopal Naik has been sworn in as the new Surpur MLA following his victory in the by-elections for the Surpur assembly constituency. The oath-taking ceremony took place in room number 106 on the first floor of the Vidhan Sabha.

UT Khader Farid, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, administered the oath to the newly elected MLA, Raja Venugopal Naik, and extended his congratulations.

Among those present at the ceremony were Minister Sharanbasappa Darshanapura along with MLAs B.B. Chimmanakatte, Allama Prabhu Patil, Jagadeva Guttedar, MP Kumar Naik, Legislative Assembly Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi, and other dignitaries.

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Udupi: The State will submit a Rs 850 crore proposal to the Union government for the overall development of the Malpe fishing harbour, Karnataka Minister Mankal S. Vaidya announced while laying the foundation stone for a Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project of the harbour under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

“If the Union government does not consider the proposal, the State government will finance the proposed project,” The Hindu quoted Vaidya, state's Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport, as saying.

Vaidya noted that Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules continue to hinder coastal development in Karnataka, preventing the implementation of projects worth Rs 2,034 crore. He stressed the need for CRZ norms in the state to be aligned with those in other states, where such regulations do not pose a barrier to coastal infrastructure and development initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said the PMMSY has revitalised the fisheries sector, enabling the implementation of several projects that benefit fishing communities nationwide. He urged the state government to prioritise dredging of estuaries and upgrading fisheries jetties to ensure year-round navigability and the safety of fishing vessels.

The Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project will focus on enhancing sanitation and water supply at the harbour, upgrading fish handling capacity, and strengthening security at the port, The Hindu quoted fisheries and ports officials as saying.

A reliable water supply and improved handling facilities are expected to speed up auctions and vessel turnarounds, while upgraded wastewater systems will help tackle long-standing issues of odour and contamination at the harbour.