Mangaluru: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has requested the Karnataka government to provide funds to develop inland waterways on Netravati River and Gurupur River in Dakshina Kannada district.
President of KCCI, Isaac Vas, in a letter to the Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport of the Karnataka government said that there has not been any budgetary allocation for implementing inland waterways even though India’s Inland Waterways Authority has identified Netravati River as National Waterway 74 and Gurupur River as National Waterway 43.
He explained that these waterways would help to bring Mangaluru to its past glory as a vital boat-building centre.
Speaking about the 7 MoUs signed by NMPT with stakeholders, he said “a couple of such industries exist on the sand bar of Netravati River on the southern side. If the waterway is established, this industry can be localised along the river banks.”
He stressed that these waterways will help to promote tourism in the area and thus providing greater economic benefits to the region.
Vas said that the establishment of waterways will provide immense benefits for economic activities connected to movement of cargo, men and material, small shipbuilding and boat building, fisheries, fish meal and fish oil, tourism and water sports.