Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said on Saturday that the Government has been giving priority to fisheries.
He was speaking at a function organised by the Manipal University, G. Shankar Family Trust and Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane to distribute Manipal Arogya Cards to 7,500 families here.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the Government had allotted Rs. 30 crore for the construction of fisheries harbour at Koderi. An amount of Rs. 20 crore had been provided for dredging work at fisheries harbours in the State.
The amount of money provided under the Matsyashraya Scheme had been increased from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000.
The State Government would urge the Centre to modify the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms to protect the interests of the fishermen.
The State Government, which had implemented the Vajpayee Arogyashri Scheme in seven districts, now planned to extend it to all districts. Nearly 92 lakh students had undergone medical treatment under the Suvarna Arogya Scheme in the State.
Mr. Yeddyurappa also inaugurated the Divisional Office of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) here.
Book release
Releasing the book Kanasugara Kodgi on the achievements of the Chairman of Task Force for Implementation of Third Finance Commission Report A.G. Kodgi at Amasebail in Udupi district, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that people were losing faith in democracy and representatives of people. He would concentrate on development for the rest of his tenure. “We politicians are not permanent, but the work of our government should remain permanent”, he said.
He lauded the contribution of Mr. Kodgi to the field of agriculture, industry, dairy farming and public service. “I have taken Mr. Kodgi's guidance many a times,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
Minister for Energy Shobha Karandlaje, Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya, Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, MPs B.Y. Raghavendra and D.V. Sadananda Gowda, MLAs H. Srinivas Shetty, Lalaji Mendon and Yogish Bhat, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Ramachandra Gowda, Chairman of Karnataka Bank Ananthakrishna, and Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math were present.
Temple renovation
Earlier Mr. Yeddyurappa inaugurated the renovation works of the Mahatobhar Sri Mahalingeshwar Temple at Basrur. He offered prayers at Sri Mookambika Temple at Kollur and Sidhivinayaka Temple at Hattiyangadi.
