Karwar to become largest defence zone in Asia

(DNA , IDRW)“The expansion of Sea Bird Naval base will turn Karwar, part of Uttara Kannada district, into the largest defence zone, not only in India, but also in Asia, thereby increasing the country’s maritime power multi-fold,” said Union defence minister AK Antony during the inauguration of housing township for the Sea Bird Naval base employees at Amadalli near Karwar on Saturday.
Work for the second phase of the base has already begun, and this is expected to create large-scale employment opportunities for the local youth. In the next 10 years, a number of infrastructure projects are expected to come up for construction in Karwar and Ankola.
The government had spent Rs127 crore for rehabilitation of the project. Many families were displaced, and over 1,000 youth belonging to displaced families have been imparted with skills through various industrial training institutes.
He said about 60% of the people working in the naval base belong to Karwar and Uttara Kannada district. But several issues related to rehabilitation are still not solved due to technical reasons, but efforts are on to solve them expeditiously.
Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral NK Varma, said the Karwar Sea Bird Naval base is one of the most strategic naval bases in the world. In the coming days, its importance to the country’s maritime defence will improve further. The second phase will get additional jetties, dockyards, airports, and transit systems.
“The Sea Bird’s second phase of development has adequate land, and there is no need for land acquisition,” assured minister Antony.
The cost of completion of the second phase will not be less than Rs1,25,000 crore, which will be five times the amount spent in the first phase. The airport, which will come up in the second phase, can be used forcivilian purposes, said the minister.
Referring to a report in DNA on the Navy shelling the Nethrani Island in Bhatkal taluk, Admiral Varma said that the National Biodiversity Committee has permitted them to practice shelling in the Nethrani Island. However, the Navy has been asked not to harm birds and marine life, he clarified.