CM Bommai: We plan to set up fish food stalls in all 243 wards in BBMP limits

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said there is lot of demand for fish food in BBMP zones in the city and there is a proposal to start fish food stalls measuring 1500 -2000 sq mtrs in each ward of BBMP.

There are 243 wards in Bengaluru City and the required space will be provided in all wards to open fish food stalls. The state government will also extend Rs 3 lakh subsidy to fishermen to do fishing through cable net, he announced. Speaking after inaugurating the Inland Fish Producers Convention at Palace Ground here on Sunday, he said under Stree Samarthya scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to 5 lakh is given.

Utilising the subsidy being given for Stree Shakti groups and under Swami Vivekananda scheme to take up inland fishing, 1,000 sanghas must come forward to take up fishing. The State is yet to achieve much in the fisheries sector with neighboring Andhra Pradesh ahead of Karnataka in fish exports. Instruction has been given to take a team of fishermen to Andhra Pradesh on a study tour.

The existing fishing activities must be extended and the exports increased by at least three times. Five thousand houses have been sanctioned for fishermen to make them economically strong. The houses must be completed within the stipulated time, he said.  

Bommai also underscored the ne e d to ex p er i ment w it h new breeds in inland farming to create a big market. For new ventures, a subsidy of Rs one lakh is given per hectare. The government of India has launched ‘Sampada’ scheme to encourage deep sea fishing using big trawlers.

The State has given 100 new inland boats to fishermen under ‘Sampada’ scheme besides 40 per cent subsidy along with loans at low rate of interest. Fishermen associations must go for deep sea fishing to increase fish productivity, the CM stressed. He also said special grants have been released to take up desilting at eight fishery ports.

The subsidy on diesel and kerosene for fishermen has been hiked. Grants have been released to promote fishery in 5600 tanks in 5600 gram panchayats. Fishing is not going on systematically in Almatti and the backwaters of KRS and it is being controlled by some persons. This will be checked, he said