Fisheries Has the Potential to Become a Major Industry in These Islands: LG
Port Blair, Feb 21: Admiral DK Joshi PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM VSM (Retd.), the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands & Vice Chairman, Islands Development Agency inaugurated the Modern Fish Market at Mohanpura today. This new spacious fish market will enable fish vendors of Mohanpura area to sell their catch in a hygienic environment with all required facilities under one roof. The project is funded by the Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration and the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad (GoI). The Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B Sanghi, the Adhyaksh ZPSA, Shri Subir Chander, the Chairperson, PBMC, Shri NK Udhaya Kumar, ex-MP Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, senior Officers of the A&N Administration and a good number of fishermen were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt. Governor expressed his happiness that a double storied fish market with better facilities has been thrown open for the benefit of the fishermen and the general public. The Lt. Governor said that keeping in mind the water scarcity being faced during summer season, Rainwater Harvesting System has been made mandatory in all the new building being constructed in PBMC and RD sectors. About 9 ton capacity rain harvesting tank has been created in the newly constructed fish market, the Lt. Governor said.
The Lt. Governor further said that this fish market has a better dry and wet waste disposal mechanism which turns waste into manure. Such facility is available in very few fish markets in the Country, the Lt. Governor added. He directed the Chairperson PBMC to ensure that stalls are allotted to the fish vendors immediately so that the fishermen and the people can take benefit of the facility.
The Lt. Governor opined that apart from Tourism, Fisheries has the potential to become a major Industry in these Islands. These Islands have 30% Exclusive Economic Zone which provides ample scope to become a major Fishing Industry of our Country. There is ample scope for export of fish from the Islands, he said.
The Lt. Governor disclosed about the various initiatives taken under the Central Govt. and Administration level for the betterment of the fishermen community. He said that about 14,000 fishermen have been covered under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana while under Pradhan Mantri Arogya Yojana 1,400 fishermen have been registered. The Lt. Governor said subsidies are being provided for various components under deep sea fishing scheme. All the banks are providing loans under various schemes in easy terms and conditions to the entrepreneurs to start their self ventures in the fisheries sector. He urged the Member of Parliament, the Chief Secretary and the members of ACCI to sensitize the people about the schemes and subsidies available for them. Referring to the recent visit of the 24 member Indonesian delegation, the Lt Governor said the delegation has also shown interest to collaborate with the A&N Islands in the fishery sector.
In his address on the occasion, the Member of Parliament, Shri Kuldeep Rai Sharma congratulated the Fisheries Department for constructing the double storied Fish Market for the benefit of the vendors as well as the people. He said A&N Islands are developing fast and with the committed effort of the A&N Administration, the people of these Islands are going to get two mega projects viz. Optical Fibre Project and air connectivity of A&N Islands with South East Asian Countries. These projects will pave way in the opening of a big market here, the MP said. He urged the Administration for devising a plan for doubling the income of the fishers similar to the plan devised by the GoI for doubling the income of farmers. He requested the Administration to concentrate more on new technology and deep sea fishing to harness fishery potential available in Andaman waters. He further requested for opening such kind of fish markets in Inter Islands where fish is available in abundance.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary A&N Administration, Shri Chetan B. Sanghi said that Fisheries Department has done commendable job in last two years for the benefit of the fishermen community here. He said some new facilities were added by the department in this newly inaugurated fish market. He directed the PBMC to ensure better upkeep of the new asset and maintain it properly. The Chief Secretary further said that the Fisheries Department has taken some far reaching steps. He said the Lt. Governor has waived off the royalty for sending fish to mainland. Apart from this, getting permission for exporting fish to other countries have made easy as an office of MPEDA and EIA has been opened here in Port Blair itself. The Chief Secretary mentioned that some fishermen have ordered for construction of big boats with the help of Govt. and it is expected that these boats will reach Port Blair within two to four months time from now. This will help the fishermen for harvesting Tuna fish, the Chief Secretary added.
Referring to Fish Landing Centers (FSL), the Chief Secretary said that a total of 12 FLCs have been constructed while 5 more FLCs will be completed by March this year and another 3 FLCs will be completed within 3 to 4 months time. The capacity of Ice Plants will be doubled by this year end and the cold storage being constructed near Fore Shore road will be completed in the next 6 months. The demand of the fishermen for creation of a slipway at Junglighat has been ordered and it will be completed within four to six months, said the Chief Secretary and urged the fisher folks to take maximum advantage from the fisheries infrastructures such as FLCs, cold storages, ice plants developed for their benefit. The Chief Secretary also stated that through the major programmes of NCDC, help will be provided to SHGs for procurement of big fish landing crafts for which beneficiaries have been identified and disbursement will start this year itself. Sea Weed Culture will be taken up as soon as the study report for the Sea Weed Culture is received, he added. The Chief Secretary disclosed that under the Smart City Project, the vegetable market at Ratnam Market will be completely revamped.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairperson, PBMC, Shri NK Udhaya Kumar congratulated the A&N Administration & the Fisheries Department for fulfilling the long pending demand of the fishers in the form of a double storied fish market at Mohanpura. He said apart this, many projects approved by the Central Govt. is taking shape which ultimately benefit the general public. He promised that the PBMC will make best effort to upkeep the sanitation and hygiene of the fish market.
In her welcome address, the Secretary, Fisheries, Smt. Nitika Pawar informed that A&N Administration decided to construct two Modern Fish Markets to facilitate the fish vendors to sell fish in a hygienic environment. The Modern Fish Market at Junglighat was inaugurated in 2018 while the second Fish Market at Mohanpura was inaugurated today. The double storied hygienic fish market at Mohanpura is having 36 stalls for vendors, chill room, office room and electronic weighing machine area in the ground floor while meeting hall, office room, hall for storage of ice box and toilet facilities on the first floor, she added. The new facility has been created at a cost of Rs. 175 lakhs of which some fund has been provided by the National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad (GoI), the Secretary said.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Director of Fisheries Department, Dr. Utpal Kumar Sar.