The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has approved a concept note by the Department of Fisheries for substantially improving the condition of schools in coastal areas across the State and to provide a fillip to efforts to help better marketing of fish. Ernakulam district is likely to get two modern markets under the proposed programme, approved by KIIFB.
Fisheries Department sources said on Tuesday that as per the concept note, facilities at coastal schools would be improved and modern market facilities established. The proposal is for a total investment of ₹480 crore in a phased manner.
A detailed project report would be prepared on the basis of the concept note by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, sources said. Since KIIFB wants a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry out the programme, Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation has been designated as the SPV, sources added. They said that once the project received the final approval, the programmes would be completed within three years.
Fish sales
The proposed marketing programme comes close on the heels of efforts by the State government to crack down on sale of fish contaminated using dangerous chemicals. Extensive checks are now being carried out to detect consignments of fish arriving in the market.
At the same time, Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma had recently reiterated that the government would clear the way for establishing a culture of direct sale of fish by the fishermen themselves.
The Minister had said here on Saturday that the government endeavoured to establish the culture of direct marketing of quality fish by avoiding middlemen. Fisheries apex cooperative Matsyafed would be strengthened to speed up the process.
Primary level fisheries cooperatives centred on fisheries harbours will be financially backed through Matsyafed to enter the fish auction process.
The Minister had said, steps were taken to formulate laws to deal strictly with contamination of fish.