Jaya announces schemes worth Rs 50 cr for fisheries, sports

In an boost for fisheries and sports infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a slew of schemes worth more than Rs 50 crore in the Assembly today.
The schemes include a sailing academy, an e-library, fish landing centres, besides steps for increasing fish production and launch of mobile seafood restaurants.
Making a suo motu statement in the House, Jayalalithaa said fish landing centres will be set up in five places, including Pazhaverkadu (Tiruvallur district), Jambavanodai (Tiruvarur) and Karayur Theru (Thanjavur) at an outlay of Rs 9.77 crore with facilities including cold storage and hall for fish auction.
These centres would pave way for safe parking of 1,379 country boats, fishing craft and help fishermen safely land their catch. Steps would be taken to increase fish production to 4.5 lakh tonnes from the current 2.4 lakh tonnes, she said.

Steps will be taken for production of fishfinger lings and in the current fiscal, six fish seed production and rearing centres will be upgraded at a cost of Rs.13.65 crore.
"Through this, it will be possible to produce two crore fish finger lings additionally," the Chief Minister said.

She also announced a scheme with an outlay of Rs 1.04 crore annually to train 300 youths of fishing communities so that they can qualify in the exams conducted by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
A 'Virtual Reality Centre' will be set up at the Chetpet Eco Park here at a cost of Rs.6.75 crore to attract more visitors, Jayalalithaa informed the House.

Under the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation, a central kitchen will be set up at Kasimedu at a cost of Rs 8.32 crore to produce 'Ready to Cook and Eat' sea fish-based items. Also, two mobile restaurants will be set up at a cost of Rs 1.15 crore to merchandise hygienic sea fish food at affordable prices, she said.
In the sports sector, Jayalalithaa said a Sailing Academy and Centre of Excellence in Sailing and Rowing will be set up at Marina beach here at a cost of Rs 7 crore. An e-library will be set up at Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University at a cost of Rs 2.51 crore.

Informing that work for setting up the National Cadet Corps Training Academy at Idayappatti in Madurai is drawing to a close, she said it would have among other things an artificial rock climbing facility.