Mangaluru Port will be Given Priority Madhwaraj During Felicitation
Mangaluru: The Fresh Fish Traders Union (R) organised a felicitation programme for the newly appointed Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj, at the Port here, on August 26.
Earlier Minister Madhwaraj inaugurated the Ferry Boat and passengers Jetty at Nireshwalya Bengre. Minister Madhwaraj travelled by boat to Bengre after the inauguration and returned by the same boat. He also visited the place in dispute for a bridge which is pending for construction.
A felicitation programme was held by the union members. The Fresh Fish Traders Union member Abdul Jalil welcomed the gathering.
Addressing the gathering MLA J R Lobo said, “After becoming the Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj is visiting the port for the first time. This is the first time that we have a fisheries minister from the Fishermen community. In Mangaluru, the fishermen are facing various problems and we have to solve them”.
Lobo further said, “We need to start the third phase of development work to extend the Jetties. He also said that there are no proper facilities for auctioning the fish. We need to provide a proper place for the fish auction. For dry fish, we need to develop the market. Lobo said that being the fisheries minister, Madhwaraj will surely solve the problems of the fishermen which the entire community will remember.
Minister Madhwaraj was felicitated by J R Lobo on behalf of the Fresh Fish Traders Union. MLA J R Lobo was also felicitated by the union.
Speaking on the occasion Madhwaraj said, “MLA J R Lobo is very smart and he is responsible for my visit to the Mangaluru port. As a fisheries minister, I did not visit Malpe or Karwar, Malpe is my own constituency”. All speak about the infrastructure but no a single person speaks about the breeding of fish. If the breeding of the fish is not be safeguarded, our infrastructure will be of no use. A uniform Fisheries policy should be implemented throughout the country because there is no border in the sea. We need to bring the fisheries ministers from all the state together at Delhi and discuss the implementation of a uniform fisheries policy.”
Madhwaraj also stressed, “In the entire world, only in India there is no policy for fishing, but in other countries, there is a fisheries policy. If we will not safeguard the breeding of fish, spending on infrastructure will be of no use. First of all, we all should safeguard and encourage the breeding of fish”.
He also said MLA J R Lobo is the genius and he made me visit the Mangaluru port. For the development of Mangaluru port the central government has allocated funds of Rs 33 crore and from the state government Rs 8 crore have been allocated. I will go to Delhi with a delegation and meet the fisheries ministers of all states to implement a uniform fisheries policy throughout the country.” The situation in Malpe at present is good. So I will give priority to the Mangaluru port. Whatever the fresh fish traders have demanded, I will surely fulfill their demands. I will try my best to fulfill the needs of the fishermen community. Fish breeding should be safeguarded and continue until the Sun and Moon exists.
Madhwaraj also said that there are differences between buyers and sellers. Sellers think that they should get a good price for their catch, and at the same time, the buyer thinks that he should get the fish for less price. He also promised to work with integrity, transparency, and corruption-free, for the welfare of the society until his last breath.
He also apologised for not attending the Vittal Pindi programme in his hometown. Later the minister proceeded to the Dc office for the review meeting after which he will fly to Bengaluru .
Port of Mangalore is ideally located both geographically as well as economically to receive best of attention for further progress. With the presence of the Free Trade Zone with incentives for industrialization, the port will continue to play an important role in all facets of the growth and prosperity of the entire region. With the help of the Port of Goa in the North and the port of Cochin in the South, Mangalore has all the scope for future prominence. The expansion of the Airport as well as the expansion of the Railway, the entire region will continue to attract new prospects of growth in manufacture, technology and all the relevant logistics. The State Government as well as the Central Government have a dual role to play in the Port development because the Sea Port is the lifeline of major logistics that will brig in new jobs, new economic prospects and much more. We were born in Mangalore when there was no sea port or airport. All that we had was a regular bus station at Hampankatte and the Railway station at the same old place with one track. The times have changed with growing population with education and literacy. This is the time for us to rise and pave way for progress for our future generation.
Modern day coronation continues!! I’m very proud of our democracy.