Sagar Parikrama at Vizag Fishing Harbour

Visakhapatnam: Union fisheries minister Parshottam Rupala on Thursday stated that central government has launched the Sagar Parikrama programme to provide encouragement to fishermen in the country.

He was the chief guest at the inauguration of the 10th Sagar Parikrama organised at the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on Thursday.

As part of it, Parshottam Rupala and members of the legislative council inspected various jetties, starting from the 11th jetty. Later, he handed over a cheque of ₹23.50 lakh as loan to 39 fishermen.

Further, he distributed a fish transport vehicle, 23 two-wheelers with ice boxes, 27 Fish Andhra units, four live fish vending centre units, and 10 open sea cage units to 70 fishermen.

Speaking on the occasion, AP fisheries minister Dr. Sidiri Appalaraju said, “Andhra Pradesh is the second largest coastal region in the country after Gujarat. AP is expecting more cooperation from the centre.”

Responding, the union minister said the centre is committed to comprehensive development of fishermen. It is for this purpose that a central ministry had been set up specifically for fishermen in 2019.