Mangalore: CM Sadananda Gowda arriving by a helicopter to the port city on Saturday, to lay foundation stone for a modern fish processing unit in Hoige bazaar area here, stated on the occasion that his state had 5.60 lac hectares of inland(Sweet) water for ample breeding of fisheries, on which 2.50 lac families based their livelihood on a 300km. Coastal region with sea foods abounding there.

The Government offered several schemes for the betterment of fishing people involved in raising fish varieties and marketing them to common citizens.

He pointed out that grants offered to various projects fisheries department had gone up in 4 years, considerably.

In 2010-11, it was Rs130 crores when he was an MP, with Rs.100 crores given to construct small ports(a dozen of them) under Private-Public partnership system. Rs 9 crores were spent on 2000 houses built under ‘Matsyayana’ project.

Fish breeding ponds got Rs10crores on an area of 2,000 hectares, he reeled out figures. Besides, compensatory funds went up from Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh for every dead fisherman’s dependants.

Fishing women received Rs.10 crore as grants and they are further strengthened by 2000 self help groups among fishing community, he elaborated. Local MLA, N. Yogish Bhat presided.

Ports minister Palemar, fisheries minister Anand Asnotikar, city MP  Nalin K. Kateelu were present among listeners.