Grievances of fishers needs to be addressed on priority: Minister

Port Blair, Feb. 23: The Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, Smt. Krishna Raj visited Havelock today and interacted with the officers of the Department of Fisheries and local fishers. The fishers including the Up-Pradhan, Shri Vallab Rao raised few issues like immediate restoration of cold storage facility run by ANIIDCO, to provide fenders in the Fish Landing Centre to avoid damage to the fishing boat; and posting of a regular Fisheries Inspector at the Fisheries Sub-Station, Havelock. The Minister, on hearing the grievances raised by the fishers, directed the Director of Fisheries to attend the issues on priority.

Responding to the issues, Dr. Utpal Kumar Sar, Director of Fisheries informed that the matter related to the cold storage shall be taken up with ANIIDCO for early restoration. In the meantime, the fishers can purchase deep freezer by availing subsidy under Ratriya Krishi Vikaas Yojana (RKVY). As regard to providing fenders in the Fish Landing Centre, the Director said that the matter will be taken up with the ALHW for early action and posting of a regular Inspector for Havelock shall be done on priority.