Thiruvananthapuram: As part of state govt’s 100-day action plan, the fisheries, harbour engineering and social justice departments will jointly implement development projects valued at Rs 468 crore, said minister V E Abdul Gafoor on Saturday.The initiatives, aimed at coastal development, fishermen’s welfare and the creation of modern infrastructure, will be carried out during this period, he said in a statement.Of this, projects worth Rs 396.15 crore fall under harbour engineering department. These include the completion of 10 projects and the launch of construction for nine major works.“Under the fisheries department, various projects worth Rs 35 crore have been included in the 100-day programme. Through Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC), Matsyafed and Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), a range of infrastructure projects will be realized. To strengthen the marketing sector, the construction of fish markets at Poonthura and Njarackal along with a multipurpose fisheries centre at Eravipuram, will be completed,” the statement said.Focusing on the welfare of coastal residents, flats will be built at West Hill in Kozhikode under the rehabilitation housing scheme, while a primary health centre at Dharmadom and an emergency treatment and rescue block at Chellanam will also be readied, it added.In addition, cold storage units at Ponnani and Tanur, mobile fish vending kiosks and an OBM repair centre at Shiriya fishing village and a modern tin factory beginning commercial production at Pallathuruthy are also part of the 100-day plan.For the empowerment and livelihood support of coastal women, SAF will facilitate the launch of micro units, One Family One Enterprise schemes, and JLG units, along with the distribution of revolving funds across the state. As part of continuing development efforts, foundation stones will also be laid through Matsyafed for the modernization of MIFP in Ernakulam and the CPC ice plant in Kollam. Alongside this, the 100-day programme will also announce policy-level project starts in areas such as an e-mobility scheme providing electric scooters to women fish vendors, the formation of a blue economy cell, an aquaculture revival initiative, crop insurance, welfare measures for peeling shed workers, deep-sea fishing, seaweed farming and marine cage culture.Projects worth Rs 396.15 crore have been included under harbour engineering department. Key works include a new IP block at Vizhinjam CHC in Thiruvananthapuram, added facilities at Thangassery Harbour in Kollam, development and renovation of Neendakara and Sakthikulangara harbours, and the broodstock development centre at Ayiramthengu under PMMSY. In addition, extra infrastructure at Chellanam harbour in Ernakulam and modernization of the fishing harbours at Ponnani in Malappuram, Puthiyappa in Kozhikode, and Koyilandy are nearing completion.Construction will also begin for the development of the fish landing centre at Azhikode in Thrissur, renovation of Cheruvathur harbour in Kasaragod, and the expansion of Manjeswaram harbour. Further, under Sagarmala project, work will start on providing additional facilities at Chettuva, Munakkakadavu, Tanur, Ponnani, Koyilandy and Vellayil harbours.Under the social justice department, projects worth Rs 37.2 crore have been included.
