Srinagar, Jul 28 (KNO): The Central government on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that projects worth ₹154.57 crore have been approved for Jammu and Kashmir and ₹33.49 crore for Ladakh 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 ₹1,032.66 crore across Union Territories under PMMSY, with a Central share of ₹844.37 crore.
The minister, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), informed the House that Jammu and Kashmir has been sanctioned projects worth ₹154.57 crore, including a Central share of ₹81.43 crore. So far, ₹79.61 crore has been released, of which ₹63.44 crore has been utilised. In Ladakh, projects worth ₹33.49 crore have been approved with a Central share of ₹20.10 crore. The Centre has released ₹12.17 crore, while ₹11.23 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.
For Ladakh, the approved projects include 344 trout raceways, 13 trout hatcheries, two RAS units, four ornamental fish units, 23 fish kiosks, two ice plants/cold storages, two insulated and refrigerated vehicles, and 130 scooties with ice boxes. A Cold Water Fisheries Cluster has also been notified in Kargil district, the reply said—(KNO)