Armed with the Centre’s green signal for the ₹1,621-crore deep-sea fishing project, the State government has formally paved the way for the production of 500 new tuna long-liners-cum-gill-netters initially by issuing an order.
This also marks the beginning of a new innings for the trawler-dependent fishermen of the State who have been accused of fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, leading to their arrest and impounding of their boats.
Sharing the burden
The State government has estimated that 2,000 trawlers would need to be replaced with long-liners-cum-gill-netters over a period.
As per its plan, 500 boats each will be produced during 2017-18 and the next financial year. In 2019-20, the remaining 1,000 will be provided. The Union government, which has approved the replacement of 750 trawlers in the first phase, has released ₹200 crore. Making use of the release of funds, the State government has combined its share of ₹86 crore. The order, issued on Tuesday, is meant for the use of ₹286 crore totally.
Each long-liner-cum-gill-netter will cost ₹80 lakh, of which the Union government will bear 50%; State government 20%; beneficiary 10%; and institutions 20% . Fishermen are required to make their contribution by disposing of their trawlers.
Keeping in mind the welfare of the fishermen, the State will provide subsistence allowance of ₹5,000 per family per month for three months.
