Nellore: Zilla Parishat would arrange an Ambulance Boat for the benefit of people living at Irakkam Island located in Pulicat Lake in Sullurpeta mandal of SP-SR Nellore district.
ZP Chairman B. Raghavendra Reddy revealed this during a programme held at ZP office here on Wednesday to provide a bicycle and fishing net and other equipment worth Rs 8,000 to 150 fishermen.
The ZP chief said that the ZP would provide two boats to ferry 150 students going to school from the Island everyday and requested the Collector M. Janaki to ensure that a government doctor and teacher reside in Irakkam Island.
The Chairman also promised to help aqua farmers hit by floods in November last year. He thanked the Collector for allowing them to provide the tools to fishermen with 90 per cent subsidy from ZP funds as against 50 per cent subsidy in the past.
The beneficiary margin now is only 10 per cent. He said that they have funds to the extent of Rs 2.72 crore meant for SC/STs and fishermen and they will use them judiciously for the benefit of these communities.
Speaking on the occasion, the Collector said that they have obtained permission from the government to provide assets with 90 per cent subsidy citing the difficulties of beneficiaries to raise the balance 50 per cent.
Sullurpeta legislator Kileveti Sanjeevaiah urged the Collector to take initiative to offer water bodies to SC/ST beneficiaries for fish culture by forming cooperative societies.
MLC Beeda Ravichandra said that Nellore district contribution is Rs 16,000 crore out of Rs 36,000 crore worth of fish being expo-rted from the country every year.
He promised to establish a fishing harbour and marketing facility besides hatcheries to offer quality seed for the benefit of fishermen.
ZP Chief Executive Officer B. Rami Reddy and Joint Director of Fisheries department Seetharama Raju took part in the programme.
apart from scores of fishermen.
