AMARAVATI: In a big move to capitalise on its marine reserves, the state government has put work on nine fishing harbours on the fast track. It has set a target to complete the construction of at least four new harbours in the next 12 months. It has also planned to complete the other five harbours by the end of 2023.
The new fishing harbours would not only act as growth engines of the state's economy but also boost livelihoods of several thousands of fishermen. Fishermen from Andhra Pradesh migrate to other states, chiefly Gujarat, due to lack of proper infrastructure on the state's coast. The new fishing harbours are expected to prevent the large-scale migration of fishermen from the state.
The state government has taken up the construction of nine fishing harbours at a cost of 3,300 crore. Work on Juvvaladinne (Nellore), Uppada (East Godavari) Nizampatnam (Guntur) and Machilipatnam (Krishna) have already picked up pace. The government is spending close to 1,208 crore on the construction of four harbours for which the tenders have been finalised.
The AP maritime board is expediting work on the remaining five harbours planned at Budagatlapalem (Srikakulam), Pudimadaka (Visakhapatnam), Vadarevu and Kothapatnam (Prakasam) and Biyyaputippa (West Godavari district). The five harbors would be taken up with another 2,100 crore.
"We are spending close to 400 crore one each of the fishing harbours. No state government has taken up so many harbours in one go. This is going to transform the lives of fishermen in the state," said Rajya Sabha member Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, who hails from the fishermen community. He said chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy granted the harbours after seeing the plight of fishermen during his padayatra while in the Opposition.
"We are not only taking up construction of harbours but also investing huge money on development of infrastructure in the vicinity of the harbours so that big industries can come in," said fisheries minister Dr S Appala Raju. He said they would be spending close to 20,000 crore on development of infrastructure near harbours.
