Aqua labs to be set up with 50 crore: Deputy CM Alla Nani

Eluru: Deputy Chief Minister Alla Nani has announced that the State government will set up aqua labs with an allocation of Rs 50 crore to help aqua farmers in avoiding losses from viruses.

He participated as the chief guest at a programme held to mark World Fisheries Day here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the crisis-ridden aqua field has come to life with the government deciding to supply power at a subsidized price of Rs 1.5 per unit. The State government has appointed staff in every village secretariat to help the fishers, he said.

The Minister announced that the government decreased the age for eligibility to get pension for fishers to 50 years instead of usual 60 years for others. The kin of fishermen who was killed while venturing into the sea would get an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh.

The fishermen in the age group of 21 to 60 years will get an enhanced monetary relief of Rs 10,000 during the period when fishing is banned and a lean period every year between April and June. Excise Minister K Narayana Swamy, District Collector R Muthyala Raju, MLAs K Abbayya Chowdhary and Eliza and others spoke.