The State Government has revised its policy for leasing brackish water area for development of aquaculture looking at the vast scope for development of fisheries sector in the State. The Department of Revenue and Disaster Management (DoRMD) has issued revised principles recently keeping in view the interest of various stakeholders.
Principal Secretary of the department Mona Sharma, while recognizing the scope of fish production, has notified the revised principles. Fish production in the State witnessed a growth of 13 per cent to touch 4.67 lakh Metric Ton and export earnings clocked Rs 2,300 crore -- a rise by 26 per cent. Over 24,000 hectares of coastal land has been found suitable for brackish water aquaculture and nearly 7,000 hectares of land has so far been brought under aquaculture.
There will be two categories of applicants for the lease. The first category of applicants include beneficiaries of anti-poverty programmes, persons under BPl category, fishermen by profession or by caste, landless persons having income not more than Rs 40,000 per annum and marginal farmers in Sub-Group – ‘A’, educated unemployed persons (matriculation and above), Self Help Group (SHG), Primary Fishermen Cooperative Society (PFCS) and women cooperatives in Sub-Group- ‘B’.
The second category of lessees shall be partnership firms, technical entrepreneurs, State owned corporations and companies/ exporters registered in Odisha. To facilitate the lease process, a district level committee under the chairmanship of the district Collector has been constituted to identify Government land suitable for brackish water aquaculture.
50 per cent of the identified area will be earmarked for the first category of the beneficiaries while the remaining areas will be leased out to the beneficiaries of the second category. While leasing out land, preference will be given to existing farmers, technically qualified persons, trained and experienced persons.
It is stipulated that for the individual beneficiary of Sub-Group- ‘A’ of the first category, the allotment of land should not exceed one hectare whereas under Sub-Group – ‘B’, the leased area would be up to five hectares. The entrepreneurs, farms, corporations, companies and exporters coming under the second category may be allotted land on the recommendation of the district level committee.
lease above 10 hectares of land shall be sanctioned after the approval of the State level committee chaired by the Principal Secretary DoRMD having representatives from the other departments. While the Collector of the district will be competent to grant lease up to 10 hectares of brackish water area, the Rural Development Department will sanction lease of land exceeding 10 hectares.
In all cases, lease term will be for a period of 15 years. The Revenue authority and officials of the Fisheries Department have been instructed to expedite the lease process for achieving the goals. President Seafood Exporters’ Association Odisha (SEAO) Gorachand Mohanty has lauded the revised policy of the State Government. SEAO members have hailed the decision of the Government to include local exporters in the comprehensive principles.
Mohanty in a letter to Chief Secretary GC Pati said that the step will help boost the much needed investment required in the sector. He said at least 20 per cent of the 16,000 hectares of brackish water area identified suitable can be targeted for lease this year itself.