DIMAPUR, JULY 27 (MExN): Smelling something fishy, the People for Democratic Rights (PDR) have questioned the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Nagaland on the utilization of funds sanctioned by the centre for development of fishery activities in Nagaland under various schemes/projects.
Media & publicity Affairs, PDR in a press release on Friday claimed that the crores of rupees released to the Department of Fisheries for development of fishery activities do not commensurate when compared with its output production. The PDR furnished along with the press release documents obtained from the Finance Department on amounts sanctioned to the fishery department.
According to Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17, fish production increased to 8605 MT during 2016-17 from 8220 MT in 2015-16. However, during 2017-18, the fish production was again reduced to 8200 MT covering only about 30% of the total requirement of fish consumption in the state, the PDR stated.
Taking this into cognizance, the PDR rephrased the statement contained in the Annual Administrative Report of the Department of Fisheries 2017-18 that “there exists a huge demand-supply gap in the state as far as fish production is concerned.”
It is termed as unfortunate that the demand-supply gap increased despite huge amounts of money being released for various fishery activities.
Instances of funds released for fishery activities
Citing instance of funds released to the fishery department, the PDR revealed that during the financial year 2017-18 alone, under the Blue Revolution (NEC project), the Finance Department Expenditure ‘B’ Branch released Rs 7.35 crore to Department of Fisheries under Demand number 51 on various occasions.
On August 17, 2017, an amount of Rs 1, 90, 60, 000 was released for development of fisheries in the state under CSS on Blue Revolution (backlog of 2016-17).
A total amount of Rs 2.40 crore was also released on two dates, ie, March 29, 2018 and December 5, 2017 for development of fish seed and table farm (NEC) at Ghowoto Village, Dimapur. The amount of Rs 2.40 crore was only the 1st installment, inclusive of state share.
On June 12, 2017 and March 16, 2018, Rs 8, 54, 000 and Rs 16, 00, 000 respectively were released as 10 % state share for 1st and 2nd installment for Development of Paddy-cum-Fish Culture in Nagaland.
On this, the PDR pointed out that since it is only the state share, the 90% centre share for the 2 installments would amount to more than Rs 2 crore. It however expressed doubt whether the funds from the centre has been released to the Department of Fisheries.
On September 5, 2017, another amount of Rs 1, 44, 00, 000 was released for Development of Paddy-cum-Fish Culture in Nagaland, with no mention about state share, centre share or the installment.
An amount of Rs 1 crore was released on August 24, 2017 for Development of Table Fish Production Centre at Zuheshe Village, Dimapur.
A total amount of Rs 1.50 crore was released on 3 different dates for implementation of Fisheries Project at Molungyimsen village, Mokokchung during 2017-18 under NEC.
Besides the above amounts being released, several lakhs of rupees were released for various fishery activities in the State during 2017-18 excluding Rs 10 lakh released on June 12, 2017 as state share against 3rd installment under NEC for Reclamation and Renovation of Old Pond and Tank in Nagaland. This 10 % state share means that the NEC sanctioned Rs 1 crore approximately, the PDR also pointed out.
The PDR further reminded that there are number of other ongoing fishery projects existent prior to 2017-18 where crores have been invested.
Bring out white paper on fishery activities in state
Given such investment, the PDR noted that at this current fish-scarcity situation in Nagaland, the Fisheries Department could have played a major role in mitigating the situation to some level and “not only organize highly publicized a single day fish sale after which the department cocoons itself.”
More could have been done if projects/schemes for which crores have been released were properly monitored by the department. As per records, Nagaland has the potential to develop 30,000 hectares of fishery pond culture out of which only 4000 hectares have been covered so far, it stated.
The PDR has therefore urged the department to bring out a white paper on the fishery activities in the state and the reason for the declining fish production.
“No amount of money released for any project will be result oriented unless the nodal agencies go for physical verification of the projects and effectively monitor the projects on ground,” it stated.
