SHILLONG, MAR 18: A total amount of Rs 169.26 crore has been sanctioned for the development of fishery ponds and hatcheries to bridge the demand and supply gap of fish requirement so that Meghalaya becomes self sufficient state by 2018.
During the course of reply in the assembly on Wednesday, Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “The total amount of fund sanctioned from both the state and central government for the development of fishery ponds (both individual and community) and fish hatcheries is Rs 169, 26, 10, 565 during 2008-2009 to 2014 – 2015. Out of this, the centre has sanctioned Rs 122.42 crore and state government at Rs 46.83 crore.”
Sangma informed that the department has sanctioned and released Rs 113.38 crore to be disbursed to the farmers and entrepreneurs. The total number of beneficiaries in the state under the various components is 26439.
Stating that 2017-2018 has set as target to bring down the demand and supply gap, Sangma said, “However, we will have to review as we reach that stage since the Aqua Mission Document is a dynamic one, we will integrated additional approach in order to achieve the target.”
Sangma also said the estimated total requirement of fish in the state is 33, 000 metric tons (MT) and the state will stop importing fishes from outside till the state becomes self-sufficient in fresh water fish.
According to Sangma, the main aim of the initiative is to ensure that the consumers of the state get access to fresh fish as imported fish from outside takes at least 10 days to reach the state from their place of origin.- By Our Reporter
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