Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112258420200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

One-stop shop for fish breeders

Special Correspondent

Ornamental fish on display at ‘Matsya Darshini’

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Creatures of the sea: Schoolchildren admire the multicoloured fish in an aquarium at ‘Matsya Darshini’ on Friday. -

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday opened ‘Matsya Darshini’ – a state-of-art ornamental fish display and sale centre – bringing cheers to the growing breed of aquarium lovers in the twin cities.

The ultra modern aquarium built on 2,600 sq. yd plot on Road No. 10 in Banjara Hills at a cost of Rs. 1.50 crore, makes available huge collection of ornamental fish (some of them rare) at 50 per cent less than the market price.

An added advantage is the sale of fresh and sea water fish and prawns at attractive prices.

The fresh retail outlet opens between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. making available raw, cut and packed fish and prawns.

Fifty varieties of ornamental fish like gold and angel fish, bards, gourami, cichlids and sharks procured from Chennai, Tuticorin and Thailand are on display along with varied sizes and types of aquaria and their accessories. ‘Matsya Darshini’ is the one stop for the aquarium lovers.

The unique aquaria as the Commissioner for Fisheries Arvind Kumar puts it, is made by moulding a single piece of glass. The price of aquarium starts from Rs. 800 to Rs. 6,000 while the fish ranges from Rs. 2 to Rs. 60,000. He said the department would encourage public private partnerships in popularise aquariums in the State.

Coinciding with the World Fisheries Day,Fisheries Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad told reporters that there was huge potential for the development of ornamental fish trade.

Keeping in view the above gaps, he said the department started an ornamental fish breeding unit at Government Fish Farm in Medchal, on the city outskirts. Trained women members of Matsya Mitra groups will be producing two crore ornamental fish.

Insurance coverage

Reeling out government initiatives, he said insurance coverage for fishermen has been raised to Rs. 2 lakh that includes Rs. 1 lakh from the Centre. He said loans to the tune of Rs. 42 crore were waived for the fishermen cooperative societies.

Special Chief Secretary Priyadarshi Dash and BC Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud were present.