Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jan 14: The long-pending high-tech women's fish market, built at a cost of Rs 2.26 crore, was inaugurated by district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj near Poorna Prajna College road here on Saturday, January 14.

Addressing the gathering, minister Madhwaraj said, "This is a huge, well-equipped fish market. The project was sanctioned during the term of the late Dr V S Acharya and was kept pending due to various reasons. The construction of this fish market began in July 2014. As per the primary design, the capacity of the counters was 76, but on demand from the fisherwomen, the counters were increased to 174. 

"National Fisheries Development Board sanctioned Rs 1.80 crore for the project. City municipal council invested Rs 39 lac and Rs 10 lac was granted by the state government. The fish market was built at a cost of Rs 2.26 crore on an area of 16,000 sq ft," said the minister.

Madhwaraj also instructed the fisherwomen to maintain cleanliness in and around the fish market. A small amount of tax will be collected from the fisherwomen based on their income, he said.

MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary said, "A proposal has been sent to the government to provide facilities to unorganized fisherwomen. I urge the government to look into the appeal seriously."

The fish market consists of 174 counters, out of which 154 counters will be used by fresh fish vendors, 13 by wholesalers, four for dry fish sales and three for others. The two-floored fish market has rest room, toilets, drainage system, ample parking area and many other facilities.

Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje, president, city municipal council, Narasimha Murthy, president, town planning authority, Janardhan Tonse,member, zilla panchayat, T Manjunathayya, CMC commissioner, Baby H Salian, president, taluk union of fresh fish marketing, V Hiriyanna Kediyur, Udupi fishermen's union, Dayanand, Engineer and others were present.

Pradeep D'souza welcomed the gathering. K S Jabbal, superintendent of fisheries, Hyderabad briefed about the project.