'Shift Fisheries Dept back to State sector'

Malpe, Karnataka, July 31 (UNI) Former Karnataka Fisheries Minister K Jayaprakash Hegde today demanded that the State Government shift back the department from under the purview of Zilla Panchayat to the State sector.

Inaugurating a diesel outlet set up by the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) inside the Malpe fisheries harbour, he said the inclusion of Fisheries department in zilla panchayat was a disadvantage to the fishermen community in the urban areas, depriving them of several benefits availed by their rural counterparts.

Lauding the JD(S)-BJP Government for implimenting several of its promises to the fishermen community in the budget, he urged the Government that the four per cent interest benefit given to fishermen should also be extended to fisherwomen associations. He sought proper instructions from the Government side to collect only four per cent tax on all fisheries equipment as 12 per cent tax was still being collected despite a Government Order in this regard.

MRPL Managing Director R Rajamani, who also spoke, said the plant had set up two effluent treatment plants and water was being let into the sea only after proper treatment. Any fishermen group was free to visit the plant and inspect the treatment plants, he added.

Refusing to accept Mr Rajamani's statements, prominent fishermen leader Pramod Madhwaraj said fishermen from Bykarpady and nearby areas were coming to Malpe for fishing as the sea water in their areas had been totally polluted by MRPL.

Local MLA Raghupathy Bhat, who presided over, said the JD(S)-BJP Government had waived off about Rs 2.5 crore interest on loans availed by fishermen and the facility had been extended till August 31.

An ice plant and the office of the Malpe Fishermen Primary Cooperative Society were also inaugurated on the occasion.

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