Karwar: “The state is expecting to get nearly Rs 4,000 crore grants from the Central government’s Matsya Kranthi programme. These funds will be efficiently utilised for various development projects of the fisheries industry,” said Minister for Fisheries and Religious Endowment Kota Srinivas Poojary recently.
He was speaking to the media after inspecting the breakwater construction work in the Belikeri village of the Ankola taluk and fish market work in Karwar. “The Central Government will sanction Rs 20,000 crores in the next 5 years under the Matsya Kranthi scheme out of which Karnataka will get Rs 3,500 crores. The government will prepare plans to utilise these funds for the next five years on permanent projects. Suggestions will be sought from senior officials and fishing community leaders in this regard,” he added.
“A project to build a fisheries jetty in Belambara at a cost of Rs 140 crores is in the pipeline and soon, the Cabinet approval will be sought. Local MLA Roopali Naik had demanded a barrier to control sand erosion at Gabithkeni at a cost of Rs 5.50 crores and other projects worth 17.50 crores have been approved by the Fisheries Department,” he said.
“A 320-km permanent seawall from Ullal to Karwar has been a long-standing demand of the people of the coastal area. Seven years ago, there were plans to support this project with Rs 925 crores through NABARD funding. Now, the cost has increased and hence, the project will be revisited,” he added.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has waived the loans of 23 thousand farmers who had borrowed loans up to Rs 50,000 in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The money has been released and will be credited to the beneficiaries’ accounts in three days. Also, the fishermen had complained that they had not received funds under the savings-cum-relief scheme for the years 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19. Both the Central and State Governments are equally contributing to this project and these funds have been released and the money will be credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries. A proposal is given to the finance department to release diesel subsidies for the first quarter of 2020, he informed.
He also said that the new Karwar fish market is getting ready at the cost of Rs 5 Crores and 400 fisherwomen have submitted applications for permission to use the facility. Since certain areas of the construction are in the courts, only 180 fisherwomen will be given permission to occupy the facility in the first stage.
