AP fishermen for Rs 300 crore budget support

Fishermen's cooperative societies have asked the state government to increase the budgetary allocation to the fisheries sector to Rs 300 crore per year, from the current level of Rs 56 crore.

This would bring the state in line with other states like Maharashtra which spends Rs 500 crore, Kerala which allots Rs 400 crore; and Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, where the allocation is Rs 300 crore, according to Chethi Dharmaiah, president, Andhra Pradesh Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation (AFCOF).

He told reporters here today that this was one of the four proposals the fishermen's body had finalised after its new office bearers were elected in October last year after a gap of 15 years.

They have demanded release of subsidy funds to the beneficiaries of all three phases of Indiramma housing scheme. Also, AFCOF asked the government to issue orders for waiver of Rs 42 crore worth loans announced by YS Rajasekhara Reddy when he was chief minister.

NEW MARKETS
The fishermen's body is planning to set up 100 new 'hygienic' fish markets in all 23 districts of the state at a unit cost of Rs 10 lakh. It asked the government to allot land near Rythu Bazaars in all districts. Additionally, up to 50 fish outlets for the state capital are also being planned. These would cost around Rs 70,000 per unit.