CHENNAI: The State government will set up six more fish seed production-cum-rearing centres and give new fish landing facilities to increase fish production in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said on Wednesday.
The centres will come up at Bhavanisagar in Erode district, Agarapettai and Thirumangalakottai in Thanjavur, Nallikottai in Tiruvarur, Manjalaru in Theni district, and Manimutharu in Tirunelveli. These centres, to be set up for `13.65 crore, will have the potential to produce two crore fingerlings annually, said Jaya, making a suo motu statement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly.
Fish landing centres with modern facilities would be set up at Pazhaverkkadu (Tiruvallur), Jambavanodai (Tiruvarur), Karaiyurtheru (Thanjavur), Kombuthurai (Tuticorin), and Morpanai (Ramanathapuram) for `9.77 crore. As many as 1,379 country boats can be parked in these centres.Fish product, which now stands at 2.4 lakh tonnes will go up to 4.5 lakh tonnes, she added.
After the 2004 tsunami, and Neelam and Thane cyclones, the undercurrent and impact of waves could not be assessed properly. Sand dunes were formed in harbours and river estuaries, for which desilting and repair works were undertaken at five estuaries. This year, similar works will be undertaken at fishing harbours in Muthunagar (Cuddalore), Pazhaiyaaru and Nagapattinam, and three more river estuaries at Vellaru (Cuddalore), Pazhaiyaaru and Vettaru (Nagapatinnam), Jaya said. This will be completed at a cost of `18.30 crore.
To help educated youth from the fishing community join Indian Navy and Coast Guard, 300 youth who have completed Class 12 will be given a three-month training programme to clear the eligibility tests conducted by these forces. During this period, they will be given a monthly stipend of `1,000.
Stating that the Sports Fishing-Cum-Eco Park at the Chetpet lake was receiving an overwhelming response, Jaya said a Virtual Reality Centre would be established there for `6.75 crore. Through this facility, 3D visuals would be shown to the public from the dome of the fisheries exhibition.