Latest news with #Fisheriesdepartment
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Turtle nesting rises in Chennai as conservation efforts show results in Tamil Nadu'
Although Chennai saw Olive Ridley sea turtle deaths, huge compared to last year, situation has improved now, as the number of nests increased from 320 in 2024 to 450 this year and the number of eggs went up from 30,000 to 50,000, said Manish Meena, Wildlife Warden, Chennai Division. 'A joint patrolling with Sagar Mitras (a field-level interface between the government and coastal fishers), Fisheries department, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group of the Tamil Nadu Police was held to protect the turtles within the five nautical miles area where normal trawler fishing is prohibited. With the cooperation of the fishermen and the stakeholders, the turtles were protected. In one case, 16 live turtles were saved from a trawl boat and released back into the ocean,' he said. This was said at the event held to mark International Day of Biodiversity by Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation And Greening Project For Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board (TNBB), Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), National Biodiversity Authority and NGO Care Earth Trust on Thursday at the Amma Maaligai auditorium in Ripon Buildings complex. The theme was 'harmony with nature and sustainable development'. Migratory Bird Monitoring Trust (MBMT) managing trustee S. Balachandran emphasised on bird diversity, focussing on Central Asian Flyway and the importance of Tamil Nadu as a stopover for birds in his speech. Care Earth Trust founding-trustee R.J Ranjith Daniels said, earlier, the people of Tamil Nadu were aware of ways to live along with all living beings, despite being among the advanced civilisations during iron age. The programme also features songs of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati on natural resources and biodiveristy, a dance performance inspired by Irular community by Coimbatore-based school students and alumni and a musical performance by Kerala-based group Vayali. A press release mentioned the formation of over 13,600 Biodiversity Management Committees and the preparation of People's Biodiversity Registers in each.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
379 houses built under Punargeham project in Alappuzha
As many as 379 houses have been constructed under the Punargeham project of the State government in Alappuzha. Officials of the Fisheries department say 310 families have so far shifted to their new houses. Earlier, 1,212 families have informed their willingness to move from the coastline to safer places. As many as 750 beneficiaries in the district had identified land for building individual houses and completed land registration procedures. Meanwhile, the construction of an apartment complex under Punargeham for coastal residents at Mannumpuram, near Purakkad, is also inching closer to completion. As many as 204 fisher families would be relocated to the housing complex once it is ready. The facility constructed by the Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation on 3.48 acres of land has 17 blocks, each having 12 flat units. Each 491 sq ft flat unit has two bedrooms, living/dining area, kitchen and toilet. Besides, roads, drinking water, electricity, waste management systems, and compound walls are being readied. The government launched Punargeham to provide housing for all fisher families residing in areas vulnerable to coastal erosion (within 50 metres of the coastline) in nine coastal districts of the State. The government provides beneficiary families an amount of ₹10 lakh each including ₹6 lakh for buying land and ₹4 lakh for constructing houses. The amount is disbursed in instalments.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
O.V. Vijayan Literary Awards to be given away on Sunday
Minister for Fisheries, Culture and Youth Affairs Saji Cherian will give away the O.V. Vijayan Memorial Literary Awards at a function to be held at O.V. Vijayan Memorial at Thasrak near here on Sunday. The Minister will also inaugurate the renovated road to the O.V. Vijayan Memorial. The road was reconstructed by spending ₹92 lakh under the inland fisheries development scheme of the Fisheries department. A. Prabhakaran, MLA, will preside over the function. V.K. Sreekandan, MP, will be the chief guest. Writers E. Santhosh Kumar, Santhosh Echikkanam, and Shafi Poovathinkal are the winners of the O.V. Vijayan Memorial Literary Awards 2024. Santhosh Kumar won the award for his novel Jnanabharam, Santhosh Echikkanam for his short story anthology Kavana, and Shafi Poovathinkal won the award for the young writer's unpublished story for his work Raqeebinum Atheedinum Idayile Nunakal. The awards for the novel and the short story collection will comprise a plaque, a citation and a cash prize of ₹25,000. The award for the young writer's unpublished story will have a cash prize of ₹10,000 along with a plaque and a citation.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Fishermen urge review of ‘Punargeham' resettlement scheme, seek better benefits
Despite spending ₹780 crore on coastal development over the past nine years, the State government is yet to resolve the relocation of fishermen in Kozhikode district who continue to live in fear of sea erosion. The 'Punargeham' resettlement scheme, meant to support them, is still awaiting revision. Some previously shortlisted beneficiaries alleged that their demand for enhanced financial benefits under the scheme had received no favourable response from either the State or Central government. According to consolidated data earlier released by the Fisheries department, 2,606 families need to be relocated from vulnerable coastal areas. Of these, fewer than 600 families accepted the existing package, which offers ₹10 lakh per family to purchase three cents of land and construct a 600-sq-ft house. Many found the package inadequate to meet their actual needs. 'Our demand was to ensure at least ₹15 lakh per family to build houses in safer areas. The high cost of land near harbours has made it difficult for many to consider sudden relocation from their current locations,' said a fishermen's association leader who had earlier raised the issue with people's representatives and government departments. He also said that the number of members in each eligible family should be considered when finalising the financial package. However, sources in the Fisheries department said the concerns raised by local fishers had already been communicated to the State government, particularly their lack of interest in the project due to rising land prices and construction costs. They pointed out that the project was initially designed as a support scheme for those who urgently needed relocation due to recurring sea erosion threats. 'A major portion of government funds earmarked for coastal welfare has been spent on developing fishing harbours, coastal roads, and beach beautification projects. At least part of that amount could have been allocated for revising the resettlement scheme,' said K. Irfan, a fisherman from Vellayil. He added that the technicalities surrounding compensation disbursal and the complex rules for land purchase and house construction need to be revisited to make the scheme more appealing to those in need.
