Rs.3000 crore project for nine coastal districts

 
The State Government plans to implement a Rs.3,000 crore project for the comprehensive development of nine coastal districts in the State, Fisheries Minister S.Sarma has said. At a press conference here on Friday, the Minister said the Bangalore-based National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) had been appointed consultant for the project and they were asked to submit a project report within four months. The project would integrate schemes of the Union and State Government and funds for the project would come from different sources, including the Centre, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and funds from the 12th Finance Commission, said the Minister.As a beginning, the State Government would start the scheme in Kasaragod with own funds, said Mr.Sarma. A sum of Rs.7.5 crore earmarked in the State budge for integrated coastal development would be spent in the district, he said. A dedicated team with the District Collector as Chairman and Fisheries Deputy Director as convener and representatives of people from the district as members had been formed to finalise the development works to be executed, said Mr.Sarma.

(The Hindu,9th  June  2007)