The Hindu : Decision on fishing holiday after talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Decision on fishing holiday after talks

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM Jan.6. The Fisheries Minister, K.V. Thomas, said here today that despite reminders from the Centre, the State Government had not taken any decision on the total fishing holiday issue. He was inaugurating the loan relief adalat organised by the Matsyafed in Kollam district for fish workers who had availed housing loans and other loans for purchase of fishing equipment.

The Minister said the issue would be considered by a committee that had been constituted for the specific purpose of evolving a Fisheries Policy to guide the fishing sector in Kerala for the next 25 years. "A healthy decision on the fishing holiday issue would be taken after hearing all concerned and taking into consideration the realities," he said.

Stating that the new Fisheries policy would be announced next month, Prof. Thomas said that the Fisheries Department had launched a survey to identify genuine fish workers, so as to weed out bogus members, who siphoned away a good portion of the welfare measures. He said identity cards would be issued to fish workers.

The Minister said the State Government planned to implement various projects aimed at bringing about appreciable changes in the fisheries sector. The coastal area from Aroor in Alappuzha district to Fort Kochi would be classified as `fish processing zone'. Plans were also on to convert the Marine Enforcement Wing into a full-fledged Coastal Police Force. The State Government had submitted a Rs. 503-crore project to the Planning Commission for approval. The project envisaged improving basic infrastructure in the coastal areas. The project would be implemented within five years of the sanction, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, will inaugurate the State-level launch of the Rs.18.75-crore Coastal Sanitation Project at Alappuzha on February 25. Prof. Thomas said the project would cover all the 222 coastal villages in the State and would be completed within one year. He said the loan relief adalat was launched to help 12 lakh fish workers in the State who faced revenue recovery threat on account of the loans they had availed for constructing houses.

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