By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR:This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha in response to a question asked.
The Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India, is implementing a range of schemes and programmes for the holistic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector across the country, including Balasore District of Odisha based on the proposal and recommendations received from the State Governments.
Over the last twelve years, from 2014‑15 onwards, under the Blue Revolution (BR) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the DoF has approved proposals of the Government of Odisha amounting to a total project cost of ₹1,567.96 crore, with a Central share of ₹549.58 crore, for fisheries and aquaculture development in the State, including Balasore District. Further, under the Fisheries and Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), 13 projects with a total cost of ₹784.32 crore and a restricted interest subvention of ₹286.39 crore have been approved for Odisha. Of these, 2 projects costing ₹8.26 crore have been sanctioned for implementation in Balasore District. The Government of Odisha has also informed that the Mukhyamantri Matsyajibi Kalyan Yojana (MMKY) is being implemented by the State Government for the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector across Odisha, including Balasore District.
The major activities undertaken in Balasore District under the Blue Revolution (BR) and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) during 2014‑15 to 2025‑26 include the development of the Chandipur Fishing Harbour at a cost of ₹49.94 crore; establishment of a State‑of‑the‑Art Wholesale Fish Market at Basta at a cost of ₹78.20 crore; development of five Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV); installation of six cold storage/ice plant units; implementation of sea cage culture demonstration of Indian pompano at Bahabalpur coast at a cost of ₹2.57 crore; bringing 107 hectares of brackish‑water area under aquaculture; and establishment of three finfish hatcheries and one scampi hatchery. Additionally, Balasore has been declared the Production and Processing Cluster of Scampi.
As reported by the Government of Odisha, a total allocation of ₹250.71 crore has been made for Balasore district since 2014‑15 under various fisheries development schemes, of which ₹214.45 crore (86%) has been utilized.
