Ten more fish markets will be built across the coast under the Central government-funded Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) – taking the total of 20 across three districts – to ensure a hygienic marketplace that can further popularise the consumption of fish in the region, said V.K. Shetty, Managing Director, Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation.
Addressing the gathering after the inaugurating the Rs. 10 lakh Fish Market at Kemral village near Haleyangadi on Monday, Mr. Shetty said the fish markets were equipped with toilets, clean water connections, drainage facilities for cleaning fish, apart from at least 16 counters for sale of fish.
A total of Rs. 2 crore will be spent under RKVY for this.
Two in DK so far
While three of these markets have come up in Karwar (Kodibag, Amadalli and Avarsa), five have been built in Udupi district (Varamballi, Moodubelli, Hejamadi, Koteshwar and Hunsemukki). Only two have been built so far in Dakshina Kannada (Bajpe and Kemral), he said.
A foundation stone was laid for a fish market in Managalapete close to Surathkal on Monday.
Hygiene
Minister of State for Fisheries, K. Abhayachandra Jain said the markets would help fisherwomen get access to cleaner surroundings to hawk their wares, instead of squatting by the roadside. “Both consumers and sellers will benefit by markets such as these,” he said.
While expressing belief that these markets will help rural traders stay afloat in the “age of competition and Foreign Direct Investment”, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel urged Mr. Jain to expedite the hitherto slow progress of bigger fish markets at Jeppu and Kinnigoli.
Saplings were handed over to villagers as a part of the watershed management project undertaken in villages along the Nandini and the Gurupura.
Mangalore: Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Affairs and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain, who is also the MLA of Moodbidri, where a mega power roject has been proposed, said he would “do what he can” to oppose the project. “People have expressed reservation, and as an MLA, I had opposed it since it was announced. I will take up the issue with the Union Power Minister and urge him to shift it out of Niddodi,” he told reporters on on Monday.
Mr. Jain said the BJP-led government in the State had chosen the site because the government had 200 acres of land in its possession. there.
‘Harmful’
“But, this land belongs to the Forest Department, and a power plant will harm the environment there,” he said.
