Fishermen receive a shot in the arm from government

Luxettipet: Giving a shot in the arm to fishermen community, the State government has initiated a series of measures like releasing funds for community bhavans, production of fish seedlings in modern methods, supply of nets on subsidy and vehicles to transport fish, release of fish seed in 108 tanks in Mancherial district and drawing up plans to encourage cage culture in Yellampalli reservoir.

Highlights:

• The government released funds for constructing five community bhavans for fishermen
• Two fish markets at a cost of `7 lakh each will be developed at Bellampalli and Mandamarri soon

According to reports, funds have been released for five fishermen’s community bhavans and funds for another five are yet to be allotted. The government allocated Rs 9 lakh to each community bhavan to be built at Kyatanpalli, Indaram, Tanduru, Bheemaram and Karnapeta. However, the fishermen cooperative society has to bear Rs one lakh for each community bhavan.

Mancherial town has a market and two markets at a cost of Rs 7 lakh each will be developed at Bellampalli and Mandamarri soon. It was estimated that another Rs 5 lakh will be required to develop the markets at Bellampally and Mandamarri. Rs 10 lakh has been released for development of a fish market here and two guntas of land adjacent to Rytu Bazaar was identified for the purpose.

25 two-wheelers and a Tata Magic van were allotted to the district to transport fish. Subsidy component on these vehicles was 75 per cent. Fishermen were happy at the prospect of receiving encouragement from the government and growing fish holds promises for them as there is plenty of water in the Yellampalli reservoir. The government’s plans will not only help fisheries development in the district but also provide livelihood to thousands of fishermen.

There are 707 water resources in the district besides the Yellampalli reservoir. On account of the reservoir, water is available in all seasons spreading over an area of 36 km. This year, the State government released fish see in 108 tanks. There are over 60 fishermen’s cooperatives with a total membership of 4,885. Over 50,000 people are dependent either directly or indirectly on fisheries. It was estimated that there is scope to earn over Rs 100 crore through fisheries development if fish seeds are released in all water resources in time.

Since the district is newly carved out, there is an acute shortage of staff in the fisheries department. Middlemen are exploiting the fishermen because of inadequate marketing facilities. The fisheries inspector office here has been wound up, while fisheries assistant director office has been started at Gudipeta.

Awareness programmes were being conducted to sensitise fishermen on cage culture. Yellamapalli reservoir at Hazipur, Luxettipet and Dandepalli mandals is identified as the most suitable for practicing cage culture. The fisheries department is ready to encourage cage culture provided a group of 20 fishermen should come forward to implement the cage culture.

The total cost of the project is Rs 50 lakh. Each fisherman should contribute Rs 25,000 so that the government will give a subsidy of Rs 20 lakh. Proposals have been submitted to set up five more fish markets in the district. Fisheries Assistant Director D Satyanarayana called upon fishermen’s cooperative societies to identify suitable land for five more community bhavans and approach him with relevant documents for allotment of funds.

By Paruvella Satyanarayana