Hit by bifurcation blues

Fisheries Research Station facing financial constraints and other hurdles after separation

Bifurcation blues continue to haunt the Palair-based Fisheries Research Station, the only institute of its kind engaged in fisheries research, training and extension activities in the entire Telangana State.

The station, which hitherto functioned as an integral part of the Tirupati-based Sri Venkateshwara Veterinary University (SVVU) in the undivided Andhra Pradesh, has now become part of the Hyderabad based newly formed PV Narasimha Rao Telangana State Veterinary University (PVNRTSVU).

The understaffed research station at Palair in Kusumanchi mandal is struggling to cope with the financial constraints and other hurdles in the aftermath of the bifurcation.

Yet to get annual budget

The station has not yet received its annual budget for the current financial year till date. Only a senior scientist and a scientist are presently working in the station as against its sanctioned strength of five posts, sources added.

Pending proposals

Several long pending proposals including the much-awaited Fisheries College and a Fisheries Hatchery at Palair, the hub of fish production in the southern Telangana, continue to remain unaddressed.

There is not even a single fisheries college in the entire Telangana State, pointed out Shankar, a fisherman of Kusumanchi mandal.

Several youngsters from the district and the neighbouring Warangal and Nalgonda districts have studied Bachelor of Fisheries Science (BF.Sc) and MF.Sc courses in other States. The Telangana government should set up a Fisheries College at Palair to provide employment for the qualified youths and tap their expertise to promote fisheries science education and research, he opined.

We have conducted research on different fish species including air-breathing fish varieties such as murrels and developed induced breeding, rearing and disease control techniques at the Station, said G Vidyasagar Reddy, senior scientist and head of the station.

The most sought after white fish like Katla and Rohu besides other fish species are being cultured at the research station and the fish seedlings are being sold to the fishermen at a nominal price.

Trials

Trials are being conducted to culture two varieties of fish species - Red Tilapia (popular in South Africa) and Amur carp at our research station as part of efforts to improve fish production in Telangana State with a futuristic perspective, Mr Reddy added.