Kerala - Alappuzha

Big boost to fisheries sector

ALAPPUZHA: Fisheries Minister S. Sarma has said the Government intends to pump Rs.3,000 crore into the State’s fisheries sector over the next five years with a focus on reviving the fortunes of the workers in this unorganised sector who have been unable to reap benefits from the huge profits that the sector was making.

Flagging off a five-day coastal march of the Kerala State Matsya Thozhilali Federation (CITU) from Andhakaranazhi near Thuravur here on Saturday, the Minister said over the last 50 years, only Rs.324 crore was spent for the fisheries sector in spite of the sector contributing a major share to the State’s overall revenue.

With the Fishermen’s Debt Relief Bill also to be presented in the Assembly soon, the Left Democratic Front was aiming to bridge the wide and ironical gap between the revenue from the fisheries sector and the financial conditions of the workers in the sector, he said.

Talking to reporters later, Mr. Sarma rubbished the claims of the Opposition that preparation of projects for rehabilitation of the tsunami-affected in the State was yet to start and said projects under the Tsunami Emergency Assistance Programme (TEAP) worth Rs.1,140 crore were submitted recently to the Central Planning Commission.

The rest of the Rs.1,441.75 crore sanctioned for tsunami works had already been spent for various emergency works.

The projects for Rs.1,100 crore were spread over nine districts, with Alappuzha getting a lion’s share of the allocation.

The district would benefit from various coastal development projects worth a total of Rs.360 crore.

While Rs.327 crore of these would be for tsunami rehabilitation works including roads, schools, bridges, hospitals, drinking water and electricity projects, Rs.33 crore would come in a package, separate from the tsunami aid, for fishing harbours at Thottapally and Kayamkulam.

“Once these projects are completed, Alappuzha will be the hub of the fisheries sector in the State,” the Minister said.

The coastal march, which is being led by Alappuzha MP K.S. Manoj, will continue till October 10 and cover areas including Azheekal, Arthunkal, Pollathai, Pathirapally, Thumboli, Punnapra, Ambalapuzha, Poonthala and Thottapally before culminating at Tharayilkadavu.

CPI (M) district secretary and veteran leader P.K. Chandranandan, Alappuzha Municipal Chairman P.P. Chittaranjan and others were present.

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