Mangaluru: To prevent overflow of Netravati and Gurupura rivers, embankments will be constructed at 16 different places in the city, said Mangalore South MLA J.R Lobo.

Speaking to the reporters on Tuesday, he said the cost of the project is Rs 3.40 cores, which will be sanctioned under NABARD scheme of the Department of Minor Irrigation. “We will complete the construction work in three months; he said and added that he has requested to sanction Rs 8 crore to ensure protection from flooding in the city”.

Under Flood Management Control scheme, Lobo said, “we have sent a proposal to the state government to sanction Rs 150 crore. It is to ensure comprehensive protection of the city from flooding during monsoon. The amount has to be shared equally by the state and the centre, he said.

Construction of retaining walls across the storm water drains from Kuntalpaady in Padavu village to Balyakodi and Mugurukodi to Achchukodi in the same village, near Kallurti Daivasthana in Kudupu, pumphouse in Maroli to Poyya Kodi and renovation of the retaining wall at Naguri near Valencia in Kankanady among others have been taken up.

On the expansion of runway in the Mangalore International Airport (MIA), Lobo said the project will be beneficial as the wide-body aircrafts can use the airport and  will boost cargo transport.

Lobo said when the issue was discussed with Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation of India, G.M Siddeshwara, he hinted  about adopting a PPP model, as the Rs 1,100 crore which is required for the project, is hard for the government to sanction. Lobo said the NRI’s are interested to invest and he will hold another round of talks with the minister.

Lobo also insisted that the government must permit children of NRI’s to write Common Entrance Test (CET). “The state government of Maharashtra, Kerala and Goa allow NRI’s to write this competitive exams”, he said.