Fish seed production being neglected in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: The fisheries department officials are intentionally neglecting fish seed production in the district though the resources are available here. By leaving resources here, the officials are showing much interest to purchase seed from Dwarapudi and Kaikaluru of West Godavari every year by paying Rs 75 lakh. Due to long distance transportation, 20 per cent of fish seed died during journey.

At fisheries department joint director’s office premises, 12 acres of land, tanks, canals are available, but officials are not focusing on to utilise it properly. Due to accumulation of silt, these tanks are remained as waste for years together. Old canals are being encroached by private parties as irrigation officials failed to prevent it.

As a result, filling of water in these tanks became hurdle and rural water supply department planned to carry water into these tanks from Nagavali river through pipeline with an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore but it is remaining on papers. As a result of stoppage of fish seed production here, motors, machines, tanks and tools became useless at fisheries department office.

At present 1.42 lakh fish seed is being supplied every year for fish culture in 225 tanks across the district and during the last year, fish product was recorded as 28,000 metric tonnes. Required fish seed can be produced here by using these tanks.

But officials are spending Rs 75 lakh for purchasing seed from other districts burdening the government. When The Hans India contacted, joint director (JD) for fisheries, VV Krishna Murthy said, “We are planning to produce seed here by storing water and using resources.”