Govt to spend Rs 7,500 Cr. on development of modern fishing harbours

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala and Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has laid the foundation stone today for the project on Modernization and Up-gradation of Cochin Fishing Harbour at Thoppumpady, Samudrika Hall, Willingdon Island, Cochin Port Authority, Cochin. The programme was attended by Hibi Eden, Member of Parliament, Ernakulam Lok Sabha Constituency, Shri K.J.Maxi, Member of Legislative Assembly, Kochi Constituency, Shri T.J.Vinod, Member of Legislative Assembly, Ernakulam Constituency, Adv. M. Anil Kumar, Mayor, Kochi Municipal Corporation, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India, Dr. Suvarna Chandrapparagari, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, Shri. K.S. Srinivas, IAS, Principal Secretary, Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala, and Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority,

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India in March 2022 sanctioned the proposal of Cochin Port Trust for Modernization and upgradation of Cochin Fishing Harbour at Thoppumpady at a total cost of Rs.169.17 crore with central financial assistance of Rs.100 crore under PMMSY in a convergence with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under Sagarmala.

The project will benefit 700 fishing boats operating at Cochin fishing harbor, which will support direct livelihoods of about 10000 fishers and indirect livelihoods of about 30000 fishers across the value chain. It is envisaged that the modernization project will support in substantial improvement in the hygienic conditions and increase in earnings from export of fish and fish products.

The main activities taken up under modernization include establishment of air-conditioned Auction halls, Fish dressing unit, Packaging unit, internal roads, loading & unloading platforms, Office, Dormitory and Food court. The project has PPP component of Rs.55.85 crore which include components such as establishment of cold storages, slurry & tube ice plants, multi -level car parking facility, reverse osmosis plant, food court, retail market etc. The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying stated that the Government has approved projects to the tune of more than Rs 7,500 Cr. for the development of modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres under Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Sagarmala scheme and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana (PMMSY) Scheme.