BJP wants separate Fisheries Ministry at Centre

Chennai, Dec 26 (UNI) BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Centre to create a separate Ministry for Fisheries in view of the country's long coastline.

Mr Naidu, who offered prayers on the seashore here on the second anniversary of the tsunami, which wrought havoc in this part of the country, said the Government should initiate step in this regard as millions of people were dependent on fishing.

He also urged the Centre to launch a comprehensive life and livelihood insurance scheme for fisherfolk in consultation with State Governments and evolve a national disaster management plan on a permanent basis.

Pointing to reports that only 35 per cent of tsunami-affected people had been provided permanent housing in Tamil Nadu and only 15 per cent in Puducherry even two years after the calamity, he said it reflected poorly on the administration.

Though some NGOs were able to complete construction of permanent houses in record time, the State Government with all its might was not able to do so, he said.

Stressing that the Government should accord priority for infrastructure and permanent housing, Mr Naidu said it was high time the world come together to do research and develop an early warning system for such calamities.

Mr Naidu also urged the Tamil Nadu Government to create a separate welfare board for the fishing community.

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