UDUPI: An integrated action plan will be drawn up to check the problem of sea erosion in the coastal districts, D.T. Jayakumar, Tourism Minister, has said.

Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Jayakumar, who is the Minister in charge of the district, said financial assistance from either the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank will be sought to implement the plan. Earlier proposals sent by the State Government to the Centre will be synchronised with this action plan.

On the controversy over the shipbuilding yard at Malpe, he said that when a delegation of representatives of people and the leaders of fishermen met the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, recently, it was decided that two slipways would be constructed at the Malpe port to protect the interests of the fishermen. The construction of the yard should in no way block the movement of the boats of the fishermen.

Fishing ban

He said that the period during which fishing is banned has been extended to 57 days in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. In Uttara Kannada district the fishing ban is restricted to 45 days. Fishermen with country boats with 25 hp engines will be allowed to fish during the ban period.

The quota of subsidised diesel for fishermen will be increased from 50,000 kilolitres to 90,000 kilolitres. It is necessary to extend all facilities given to the agrarian sector to the fisheries sector. Interest on loans taken by fishermen should be waived. Subsidised loans at six per cent interest should be provided to them.

The third instalment of money for the construction of houses under the "Matsya Ashraya" scheme will be released shortly, Mr. Jayakumar said. An additional 2,500 houses will be constructed this year under the scheme.

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