Govt to construct fishing harbour at Colachel: Minister

Chennai, Aug 19 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will construct a new fishing harbour at Colachel in Kanniyakumari district at a cost of Rs 23.50 crore, Fisheries Minister K P P Samy told the State Assembly today.

Replying to the demand for grants for his department, he said the fishing harbour would be constructed with financial assistance from the Centre.

This would fulfil the long pending demand of the fishermen of the district, he added.

He said with effect from August one this year, the government had enhanced the quantity of Sales Tax exempted diesel from 1,000 litres to 1,500 litres per month to mechanised boats.

As part of upgradation of existing fish seed farms, he said the government would repair 250 sq m area of rearing ponds at a total outlay of Rs 25 lakhs during the current year to increase the seed rearing capacity.

The government would construct an aquarium in the tourist spot of Hogennakkal at a cost of Rs 25 lakh and promote sewage fed fish culture at Kilamankudi village in Chidambaram at a cost of Rs 4.21 lakh.

He said the government would also undertake culture of sea bass (Lates Calcarifer) in one hectare at Killai at a cost of Rs 2.26 lakh. The place was surrounded by many shrimp farms and the sea bass culture could be a base for onsite training to aquaculturists, SHG members and members of brackish water fish farmers development agencies.

On mud crab fattening, Mr Samy said the government would prepare cost effective feed for crab fattening with indigenous ingredients with required protein in the existing feed unit at Tuticorin at a cost of Rs 1.50 lakh.

An ornamental fish breeding and rearing unit would also be set up at Chembarambakkam with R and D facilities for brook stock development in an area of one acre at a cost of Rs 6.75 lakh.

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