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Ship repair works at INS Kadamba from January

DH News Service Karwar:

Ship repair works will start at the much delayed INS Kadamba naval base here from January or February.

In view of this, ship-lift test has already begun at the base, said the Officer in-charge of the base, Commodore K P Ramachandran.

Addressing a press conference here in the backdrop of Naval Day on December 4, he said, INS Adithya warship will arrive at the base by the end of December. By January or February, the base would have more such warships on a permanent basis, he added.

Though the INS Kadamba naval base was inaugurated on May 31, 2005, the first phase is expected to be completed only by the end of 2006. The defence ministry is in the process of finalising the plans for the second phase, he said.

There will be free entry for general public to view the warships and select VIPs will have an opportunity to go on sea voyage during the naval week in Karwar and Mangalore. This programme will be held in Karwar on December 17 and in Mangalore on Dec 19.

Navy band will entertain the public with an orchestra at the Rabindranath Tagore sea shore in Karwar on Dec 16 and the same will be held in Mangalore on Dec 19. Governor T N Chaturvedi is expected to take part in this programme, K Ramachandran said.

People who have been displaced by the naval base are being given employment on a priority basis.

About 142 people have already been appointed as sailors and another 104 have been given various other jobs.

Training programmes are also being conducted to local people so as to enable them to work at the ship repair facility. “There are ample opportunities for local people as recruitment is a continuous process at the naval base”, he informed.

Once ready, Navy hospital INHS Pathanjali, will be of great help even for the local people . Kendriya Vidyalaya in the naval base is already imparting quality education to the local students.

A decommissioned missile launcher warship would be brought to Karwar from Vishakapattanam and converted into a museum, he said.