The government has secured an assistance of Rs.60.80 crore from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for the integrated development of the coastal areas in Kerala.
The amount, sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), will be utilised for drinking water supply, construction of fisheries stations, improvement of basic facilities in the fisheries sector, and development of educational and health care institutions in the coastal areas, Minister for Fisheries K. Babu has said. The package will be implemented by the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC).
The proposed water supply schemes will cover Neendakara in Kollam; Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha; Chellanam in Ernakulam; Kaipamangalam in Thrissur; and Ajaanoor in Kasaragod district. Mr. Babu said the schemes would provide a permanent solution to the water scarcity in the targeted fishing villages.
An official press note quoting him said the construction of fisheries stations would be taken up in Alappuzha, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Kasaragod districts at a cost of Rs.50 lakh each. The project, he said, was designed to enhance the security of fishermen at sea.
The improvement plan includes establishment of fish-landing centres, net-mending yards and shelter yards, and construction of roads and installation of high-mast lights. The Minister said the preliminary activities of the project had been initiated.
The press note said the KSCADC had sought an assistance of Rs.150 crore from HUDCO for the development of coastal and inland fishing villages.
