Bengaluru: The Ports and Fisheries Minister, Mankala Vaidya, announced plans to construct new ports in Karwar and Mangalore as part of an initiative to boost fisheries, ports, and inland waterways in the three coastal districts.

Following a consultative meeting on departmental issues related to coastal districts held at the Vidhansouda conference hall on Thursday, Minister Vaidya addressed reporters, highlighting the focus on developing tourism and providing boat parking facilities alongside the new port construction.

The estimated cost of the project will be determined after the completion of the detailed project report.

Additionally, the construction of ports on 13 identified islands across the three districts was discussed. 

Minister Vaidya mentioned the consideration of a public-private partnership to enhance tourism but emphasized that the decision is not final. 

Despite ongoing requests, the central government has not yet supplied the annual kerosene oil. To address this, a monthly distribution of 200 liters of white petrol at a subsidized rate of Rs. 35 per liter for 10 months has been approved, with a provision for purchasing up to 300 liters.

Assembly Speaker UT Khader,  Ministers Lakshmi R. Hebbalkar and Dinesh R. Gundurao, and Coastal MLAs Dinakara Shetty, Umanath Kotyan, Shivram Hebbar, Gururaj Gantihole, Yashpal Suvarna, Vedavyas Kamath, Satish Sail, Harish Poonja. Legislative Council member Pratap Sinha Naik and Finance Department Principal Secretary LK Ateek were also present.