Naidu creating artificial crisis in aquaculture farming: Minister Appalaraju

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Fisheries Minister Seedari Appalaraju has blamed TD chief Chandrababu Naidu and the business cliques associated with him for the “artificial crisis in aquaculture fish farming in the state.”

Talking to the media in Palasa in Srikakulam district on Friday, the minister said exporters and investors with linkages to Chandrababu have been blaming the government for the crisis in the aquaculture sector. “They are doing this without accepting the fact that shrimp export has declined due to fluctuations in the international market,” the minister said.

“Yet we have been charging only Rs 1.50 per unit electricity on farms spread over 10 acres. Chandrababu Naidu had collected Rs 3.86 per unit during his tenure. Before laying down the office, Naidu had announced a rate of Rs 2 per unit but failed to reimburse the subsidy amounts with the discoms," he said.

“This government paid Rs 330 crore as subsidy to the discoms for the fiscal 2019-2020 during the last three years. The debt left behind by the TD government amounted to Rs 2,647 crore which this government paid.”

The minister alleged that the makers and sellers of seeds and feeds have been funding the elections of the TD. “Chandrababu should ask these companies to reduce the prices rather than blaming the government.”

Explaining the reasons for the fall in shrimp exports, the minister said the Chinese markets have been shut down and the US is importing shrimp from Ecuador that has increased its production manifold.

He said that by the launch of the aqua development authority, a majority of the problems being faced by the farmers in this sector would be solved. A working group headed by a minister would soon look into the problems of aqua farmers in the state, he added.