The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka Govt to build houses for fishermen

THE Karnataka Government has chalked out a plan to construct 5,000 houses for fishermen. The scheme is to cover not only fishermen along the coastal stretch, but also those in the hinterland.

According to the State Minister for Ports and Fisheries, Mr Vasanth V. Salian, the Karnataka Government plans to increase this number to 10,000 during the year 2003-2004 and the Centre has already been approached for assistance to implement this project.

Mr Salian, according to a Government communique, was speaking at a programme to demonstrate a new product called `Fish Max' which is intended to help fishermen increase their catch. The State Government has also announced a 25 per cent subsidy on the product.

Mr Salian also said that the State Government planned additional assistance for the development of fishing operations in the hinterland. At present fish are being bred in 25,000 tanks in the State and over the next three years this programme alone is expected to generate employment for up to one lakh people in rural Karnataka, according to the Minister.

Also, fish markets would be constructed in all panchayat centres covering the 175 taluks in the State. Moreover, a proposal has also been submitted to the Chief Minister for Rs 50-crore annual grant to ensure that the Fisheries Department would be able to implement various schemes for the betterment of fishermen.

A delegation would soon meet the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to pursue the Rs 136-crore proposal for the construction of a `permanent sea wall' to tackle the problem of sea erosion affecting various areas along the Karnataka coast, Mr Salian said.

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