Warangal: Fish seedlings released in water bodies

Warangal: Telangana is the only State in the country that devised a policy for the rapid growth of fisheries sector, Minister for Panchayat Raj Errabelli Dayakar Rao said. Speaking after releasing fish seedlings into tanks near Madikonda and Pedda Pendyala on Friday, he said that the State government is committed for the upliftment of the fishermen community by releasing fish seedlings free-of-cost in minor irrigation tanks, reservoirs and other water bodies.

"Due to lack of financial support and guidance, the local fishermen community had to relinquish their traditional occupation and turned into labourers, thus giving an opportunity for the Andhra traders to exploit the situation by investing in fisheries in the State," Errabelli said.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who noticed the plight of the community, had started releasing fish seedlings at cent per cent subsidy, the Minister said, referring to the benefits provided to Mudiraj and Besta communities.

Stating that the officials were taking care of supplying healthy seedlings, he told the fishermen community to utilise the benefits of the scheme. He told the fishermen not to fall prey to middlemen as the government was providing vehicles to transport their crop to markets.

He said that with bountiful rains around this season, all the ponds and minor irrigation tanks are full to brim. As it conducive for the fish farming, there would be a windfall for the fishermen community, he added. The Minister called upon people to make the 60-day action plan for developing greenery and hygiene in villages announced by KCR a huge success. The government will give incentives to gram panchayats that perform well.

Warangal Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil said that onus is on fishermen cooperative societies to ensure income of at least Rs 50,000 to each member. He warned society functionaries not to take unilateral decisions and maintain transparency. It may be mentioned here that authorities released 1.50 lakh fish seedlings in Madikonda tank and 1.57 lakh seedlings in Pedda Pendyala. Wardhannapet MLA Aroori Ramesh and Station Ghanpur MLA Thatikonda Rajaiah were among others present.

In a related development, Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav has released fish seedlings in Godavari river near Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Telangana has become a beacon for entire country.

The TRS government is giving high priority to irrigation projects, fisheries sectors is also to get a fillip alongside agriculture, he said. Yadav said that plans are afoot to release 50 lakh fish seedlings and 12 lakh prawn seed in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district as it likely to benefit 546 fishermen families living on the banks of Godavari river.

Earlier, the Minister offered prayers at Kaleshwara Mukteeshwara Swamy temple in Kaleshwaram. Rajya Sabha member Banda Prakash, Bhupalpally Zilla Parsiahd Chiarperson Jakku Sri Harshini, Peddapally ZP chief Putta Madhu, Manthani MLA D Sridhar Babu and Jayashankar Bhupalpally District Collector Vasam Venkateshwarlu were among others present.