On September 18, a ministerial cabinet meeting convened in Mangalore, prompting Karnataka MLA Manjunath Bhandari to submit a detailed memorandum to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar requesting the inclusion of a ₹5,000 crore special economic package for the coastal districts.
Bhandari, who also serves as the KPC president, highlighted the region's reliance on fisheries, tourism, higher education and cultural preservation. He urged the government to earmark funds for a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade, advanced skill‑development centres for youth, and a permanent solution to coastal erosion.
The memorandum lists several concrete proposals: upgrading the Brahmavara Agricultural Diploma College in Udupi to a full‑fledged agriculture university with an additional ₹10 crore grant and ten contract faculty; relocating the current diploma courses to the Katlagere campus of Davangere University for optimal resource use; establishing a dedicated fisheries university by upgrading the existing Mangalore Fisheries College; creating a Karnataka Fisheries Council to coordinate sectoral policies; and constructing a modern aquapark in Mangalore to generate local employment.
Additional demands include a diesel subsidy increase for fishermen's boats, doubling the compensation for families of fishermen lost at sea from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, installing cold‑storage facilities at key fishing hubs, and launching a permanent sea‑wall based on scientific studies to curb shoreline retreat.
Chief Minister Shivakumar responded by directing the chief secretary to consider the highlighted points for the cabinet agenda, signalling political will to address long‑standing coastal grievances.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Mangalorean News