Govt sanctions 7 floating jetties in Karnataka under Sagarmala

• The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways has sanctioned seven floating jetty projects situated on Gurupura River and Netravati River in Karnataka.

• These projects are located at Sulthan Bathery, Bandaru ferry, Sandpit Bengre, Northern Sandbar, Old Port, Jeppinamogaru Old Ferry and Kasaba Bengre.

• These projects have been granted 100 per cent funding of Rs 26 crore by the ministry under the Sagarmala programme.

• It will enhance tourism, create employment and generate wealth in a ripple effect across industries throughout the entire geographical region. 

• Rural areas stand to gain the most from the improved regional infrastructure and enhanced job opportunities engendered by tourism-related development projects. 

• Floating jetties are a game-changer for the tourism sector. It is one of the key initiatives of the ministry under the Sagarmala programme, to promote and develop a unique and innovative concept of floating jetties which is an alternate solution to India’s over-crowded small harbours used for fishing and tourism related activities.

• The floating jetties have multiple applications including marinas, minor harbours, fishing harbours, fish landing centres and waterdromes. 

• These have several advantages over traditional jetties including being environment friendly, having a longer shelf life and being easily re-configurable.

Sagarmala programme

• The maritime sector has been the backbone of the country’s trade and has grown manifold over the years. To harness India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes, the government launched the Sagarmala programme, which aims to promote port-led development in the country.

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2015.

• It holds a vision to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimal infrastructure investment. 

The projects under the scheme have been categorised into five pillars:

i) Port modernisation & new port development

ii) Port connectivity enhancement

iii) Port-led industrialisation

iv) Coastal community development

v) Coastal shipping and inland water transport.

• Projects under Sagarmala are being implemented by relevant major ports, central ministries, state maritime boards, state governments and other agencies. 

• Sagarmala programme was conceptualised in 2015-16 with 175 projects, which increased over the years to 802 projects worth investment of Rs 5.48 lakh crore.

• Addition of new projects in Sagarmala is a continuous process in the ministry wherein states and implementing agencies progressively submit their new proposals which are taken for consideration for funding as per their requirement. 

• In May 2022, the government announced expanding the scope of the Sagarmala Programme to 1,537 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 6.5 lakh crore.

• The National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is the apex body providing policy directions and guidance for Sagarmala projects and reviews its implementation. The NSAC was constituted on May 13, 2015 by the Union Cabinet and is chaired by minister for ports, shipping & waterways with Cabinet ministers from stakeholder central ministries and chief ministers & administrators of coastal states and Union Territories as members.

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