Palk Bay scheme to get a fillip: Murugan
The Hindu
Minister says unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels will be raised, making it more attractive to fisherfolk
The Union Government is considering increasing the unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels under the Palk Bay scheme to make it more attractive to fisherfolk, L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Information and Broadcasting, said here on Friday.
In an interaction with senior journalists of The Hindu Group on Friday, the Union Minister, who was accompanied by K. Annamalai, president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP, conceded that the original unit cost of ₹80 lakh was “inadequate” [to meet the requirements of the fisherfolk]. This was why the Union Ministry asked Cochin Shipyard Ltd., a company fully owned by the Union Government, to work out the revised cost.
“They [the Cochin Shipyard] have given their opinion. Now, the unit cost may touch ₹1.3 crore. Once the technical nod comes, we will go ahead,” the Union Minister explained.
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