The Central government has given administrative approval for two fish landing centers in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts under Prime Minister Matysa Sampada Yojana’s scheme.
Each fish landing center at Rajayyapeta in Nakkapalli mandal of Anakapalli district and Bheemili in Visakhapatnam district would be constructed with around Rs. 28 crore each. According to sources, the district has received the guidelines from the Central government. The centers would be built with the funds 60-40 ratio by the central government and the state. “The state government has to spend Rs. 10 crores while the remaining amount would be borne by the central government.
The Anakapalli Fisheries Department Deputy Director Lakshmana Rao told TOI that around four to five village fishermen would be benefited from each fish landing center. Each fish landing center needs around five to six acres of land. The center would come up at the river mouth at the Gantastambham area in Bheemili where five acres of land was already identified. Around six acres of land for Rajayyapeta would be acquired by the concerned district administration.
As part of the fish landing center, there would be an auction hall, net mending center, community hall, fish drying area, truck parking, cement roads from the village to the landing center, godowns, and others. Tender process and Construction of all these would take place once the land acquisition process was completed and advance possession would be given to the fisheries department, the Fisheries DD Lakshmana Rao said. Around 10,000 fishermen at Bhimili and 6000 fishermen at Rajayyapeta would be benefited directly through these centers and another two to three thousand fishermen would get benefit indirectly, he said.