Two Fisheries Colleges are being established in Telangana State for which admissions would be done through EMCET.
This was disclosed by Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav while replying to a question in the House on Friday. Admissions to these colleges, which are co-ed institutions, are in progress. One of the colleges is in the vicinity of Lower Manair Dam, he explained.
Replying to supplementary questions, the Minister said with the sole objective of improving the livelihood of fishermen’s community, the State government has initiated many programs in the recent past. The setting up the Fisheries Colleges was part of this initiative. Since aqua culture would help improve the rural economy, the government had allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the purpose, he added.
Srinivas Yadav said the Fisheries Department, in coordination with the Irrigation Department would fully make use of the tanks and reservoirs for breeding of fish. While 22 crore fish fingerlings were distributed last year, it has been increased to 45 crore. These would be released in various tanks and reservoirs in the areas like Nagarjunasagar, LMD, Ali Sagar and so on. The State government was also planning to take up prawn culture in a big way this year, he added.
In response to suggestions of the members that fish markets have to be developed, the Minister appealed to the members to identify suitable places and inform the government so that it could provide required financial assistance for developing the market yards in every Assembly constituency. Steps were also being taken up fish export to foreign countries besides supplying to different cities in the country. “Our aim is to make Telangana State the ultimate destination for availability of fish and prawns”, he observed.
The Minister also said the revival of tanks under Mission Kakatiya has also come as a boon for increasing fish production. In reply to a member, he disclosed that the State government would also consider setting up polytechnics for imparting education in aqua culture in the State. (NSS)