Marine Export Body To Merge Schemes In 10th Plan

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) will merge existing schemes into four schemes during the 10th Plan period (2002-07). The total outlay for the 10th Plan for the schemes will be Rs 15,500 crore.

The four schemes to be continued in the next plan will be export production in capture fisheries, with nine components and export production in culture fisheries, with 14 components.

Introduction of new technology, modernisation of processing facilities and development of infrastructure facilities will be the third scheme with 26 components and the fourth scheme will be for market promotion and will contain 15 components.

The authority has however dropped its original proposal to allow beneficiaries in a number of schemes to avail subsidy for the same purpose from other sources like the state government.

MPEDA had earlier suggested that as long as the total quantum of subsidy assistance did not exceed 50 per cent of the capital cost, beneficiaries should be allowed to take assistance from other sources as well.

It has also decided not to alter the maximum subsidy available for installation of water purification systems in seafood processing units. It had earlier proposed enhancing the upper limit from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh.