Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 18: Union minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry, dairying as well as information and broadcasting, Dr Loganathan Murugan, said that the centre will soon implement a plan under which villages predominantly inhabited by fishermen are proposed to be developed by sanctioning a grant of Rs7.5 crore.

He was speaking after visiting Malpe port and interacting with the fishermen there.

The minister stated that the central government will grant the said fund to undertake works which are meant to provide basic facilities, fisheries activities and academic activities for the children. He said that the work of identifying the fisheries villages will begin soon. "In Karnataka, the central government will invest Rs 725 crore in the next five years to develop fisheries activities. Approval has already been granted for building a port at Hejamady. A plan to enable fisherwomen to undertake cultivation of seaweed has been drafted and this scheme is meant to provide them financial stability," he explained.

Murugan stated that five ports in the country are being developed with international level facilities. These ports will have necessary infrastructure for the fishermen, hospitals, ice plants and such other things. He also stated that the union government is committed for the integrated development of the infrastructure for the fisheries field,

S Angara, state minister for fisheries, ports and inland water transport, speaking on the said that spot visits have been undertaken to identify the problems faced by the fishermen and to solve all the problems of the fishermen, and efforts are made to solve them. He also promised to hold discussions at the central government and state level about different demands of the fishermen. He added that already 16 proposals have been sent to the central government for the development of the fishermen.

Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, said that the fisheries sector currently is facing multifarious problems and sought reduction in the taxes on the diesel given to the fishermen by the central government. He also sought kerosene for country boats, solution to the dredging problem, and sought exemption for the boats from road cess. He also wanted inter-state problems fishermen face at sea and to extend diesel subsidy currently being extended to fishermen holding BPL cards, also to all other fishermen.

Fisherman, Raviraj Suvarna, sought sea ambulance facility to rescue fishermen in distress in case they face health problems when at sea. Fisherwoman, Sumitra, sought a suitable slot in Malpe port area for the women selling dry fish.

Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, chairman of Coastal Development Authority Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, deputy commissioner Kurma Rao M, zilla panchayat chief executive officer Dr Naveen Bhat, president of fisheries marketing federation Yashpal Suvarna, fisheries department director Ramacharya, Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation chairman Nitin Kumar, managing director Doddamani, Malpe Fisheries Association president Dayanand Suvarna and others were present.

Joint director in the fisheries department, Ganesh, welcomed. Deputy director Shivakumar, presented the programme. Assistant director Tippeswamy proposed the vote of thanks.