The Central Government on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that projects worth Rs. 154.57 crore have been approved for Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to strengthen fisheries infrastructure, boost fish production and improve the livelihoods of fishermen.
Replying to a question raised by Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, said the Department of Fisheries has approved projects worth Rs. 1,032.66 crore across Union Territories under PMMSY, with a Central share of Rs. 844.37 crore.
The Minister informed the House that Jammu and Kashmir has been sanctioned projects worth Rs. 154.57 crore, including a Central share of Rs. 81.43 crore. So far, Rs. 79.61 crore has been released, of which Rs. 63.44 crore has been utilised.
According to the statement tabled in Parliament, the key projects approved for Jammu and Kashmir include 751 trout raceways, five trout hatcheries, five fish feed mills, 70 fish kiosks, 66 live fish vending centres, 211 three-wheelers with ice boxes, 21 refrigerated vehicles, 64 biofloc units, eight recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) units, 18 value-added enterprises, and livelihood and nutritional support for 88,225 fishers.
The Centre has also notified a Cold Water Fisheries Cluster in Anantnag district.
