12 fishing jetties to come up in state: CM

Amaravati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to chalk out an action plan to complete the construction of jetties in a time-frame in the state. He said that the government was firm to develop three ports in the state and develop Machilipatnam as a major port. Officials are planning to construct 12 jetties across the state, including one at Manchineellapeta in Srikakulam district.

In a review with animal husbandry and fisheries department officials at the Secretariat on Friday, the Chief Minister said the government should build jetties and fishing harbours where fishermen are seeking them. He also discussed construction of fishing harbour near Bhimili.

The authorities brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that there are around 25,000 Telugu fishing families who migrated to Gujarat in search of livelihood. They said they could bring them back by providing them with the necessary facilities for fishing.

Responding to this suggestion, the Chief Minister asked them to take necessary steps to provide opportunities to the migrated families and stressed on the need to ensure transparency and corruption-free governance in the works.

"Steps should be taken to set up workshops by January to educate aqua farmers on fish and prawn production. Seed and feed must be of quality. There should be no adulteration anywhere.

Employees of Village Secretariats in aqua regions are from respective aqua fields. It is the responsibility of the authorities to provide them with proper training and ensure the well-being of the farmers," he said.

The previous government gave permission to set up pharma companies in the hatchery zones in East Godavari district. "These pharma companies are polluting the sea in this zone and once an area is declared hatchery zone, no other industries should be given permission in that area and it should be kept free of pollution.

Officials should focus on maintaining Minimum Support Price to Aqua farmers," Jagan Mohan Reddy said. The Chief Minister said that livestock also should be given health cards and vaccines should be administered on a regular basis to them.

He said the government would set up a breeding centre in Pulivendula to develop Murra buffaloes and Punganuru breed cows. He called upon the authorities to adopt sustainable and permanent policies to address the issue of lack of fodder to cattle in drought-prone areas.