The State Government will bring a new fisheries development policy soon and spend Rs 1000 cr for the welfare and development of fishermen in the state by involving private sector. This was informed by Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav. The fish seed will be dropped this month end afresh in the lakes, ponds and water bodies. It was decided to drop 80 cr fish seed in the lakes, water bodies against the previous 51 cr fish seed last time he said.
Addressing a press conference at Secretariat here he said that the fish scheme is giving positive results and developing the fishermen community on a whole. The fishermen got meagre funds in combined state and the TRS government has launched the scheme to develop them like never before he said. We are providing 75 per cent to 100 per cent subsidy to fishermen to get vehicles to sell their produce in the market. The fish dropping program will be videographed for transparency and avoid irregularities. The scheme so far helped 1.70 lakh families directly and 3 lakh families indirectly he declared. The government is totally distributing fish seed and avoiding interference of private persons.
The minister said that they got Rs 8 cr revenue last year against Rs 1.34 cr investment for fisheries development and also Rs 28 cr through free distribution of shrimp. New markets are being built, provide international marketing and set up processing units. Similarly the sheep distribution is being done for welfare of community professions he said. However the opposition is criticising and making vague comments he said. (NSS)