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Ornamental fish dealers in a flap
Even as the Telangana State government is keen on developing the fisheries sector, the ornamental fish dealers in the city are up in arms and demanding that their case be taken up. Of the 1,500 ornamental fish merchants in the State only 600 operate in the city.
​Hyderabad: Even as the Telangana State government is keen on developing the fisheries sector, the ornamental fish dealers in the city are up in arms and demanding that their case be taken up. Of the 1,500 ornamental fish merchants in the State only 600 operate in the city.
Though there is a provision of Rs 2 lakh loan from the State Fisheries department, Koppu Vijay Kumar, State President, Telangana Ornamental Fish Merchants Association (TOFMA) accused that there is hardly anyone who received a loan.
Most of the merchants in the city take loans on daily finance. Venkateshwarulu of Sandeep aquarium at Regimental Bazar, who has been in the business for the last 40 years says, “Most of the merchants do not have capital and pay heavy interest. With no support from the government, many face losses.”
Explaining the plight of merchants, Mohammed Ghouse of Aqua World also from Regimental Bazar says, “We take loans of Rs 20,000 and pay Rs 200 for 100 days.
But then Rs 3,000 is cut initially and we get just Rs 17,000.” In case of death of fish, due to several reasons, there is no insurance. Some exotic fish brought from Singapore such as Arowana, Flowerhorn and Parrot fish are costly ranging up to Rs 7,000.
The demands include insurance on par with fishermen and a place for setting up 30 shops at a commercial complex, subsidy in electricity and awareness programmes by the fisheries department.
Vivek Reddy, Secretary TOFMA says, “There is a need to set up a breeding centre in Hyderabad as all the merchants depend on Odisha, Chennai, Kerala and Kolkata.
A breeding centre would help in bringing down the cost.” Today, merchants pay Rs 260 per box which contains four packets with 30 fish in each packet.
But then many die en-route to Hyderabad. Vivek adds, “If breeding is done here the life of fish would be longer as they would acclimatise well.”
Presently there is no body to regularise the sector, merchants express and demand a body. Citing an example of how certain elements are detrimental, Bharat Kumar of Vasavi Aquarium in Uppal says.
“From 1995 onwards, due to positive stories in the media and the benefits of fengsui, aquariums became popular but there are many who start shops without actually understanding the business.
There is a need to bring out a rule that there should be a minimum distance of at least 2 km between shops and entrants in the market should be given training.”
A small aquarium costs Rs 1,500 and a 2-feet one Rs 2,500. Various studies in the last two decades reveal that having aquariums help people with BP. A little time spent in front of aquariums calms the nerves.
