The State Government has decided to set up a fishery harbour at Bahabalpur in Baleswar district at a cost of Rs 40 crore. The State Government would send the proposal to the Union Ministry of Agriculture for funding and is hopeful of establishing the proposed harbour. This would enable fishermen to exploit the rich fishery potential available off the coast of Baleswar and thereby provide ample scope for augmenting their income through export and domestic sale, the officials said.
Fisheries and ARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi held the final round of discussions with experts of the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) here on Saturday on a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed harbour.
Sethi has visited Bahabalpur, where the State Government has already developed a Fish landing Centre (FlC) with Norwegian assistance at the first stage. For the second stage, the Union Ministry of Agriculture is providing assistance for the FlC, said official sources.
The DPR preparation job has been assigned to the CICEF, which has presented a detailed document to the State Government for upward transmission to the Union Government.
The project would be implemented in four years and contribute substantially to increase fish and crustacean supplies to both domestic and export markets. Average annual landings of fish and crustaceans from the year of stabilisation would amount to 22,800 tonnes valued at Rs 172 crore at the boat-side price, estimates CICEF. The project is expected to give employment to 4,870 seagoing fishermen in 570 mechanised fishing vessels (MFVs).
Construction of shore-based establishments and an organisation for distribution and marketing arrangements for prawn and fish products through the Fishery Terminal Organisation (FTO) would also be set up under the project, which would provide direct benefit to 6,000 persons in the fishery industry, besides indirect benefits to many others.