Gandhinagar:

Comptroller & Auditor General(CAG) of India in its audit report tabled in the Gujarat assembly on Wednesday slammed the state government for the neglect of the fisheries sector.

In the performance audit (PA) of the state fisheries department covering the period from 2012-13 to 2016-17 the CAG noted:

During 2012-17, marine fish production of the state constituted about 20%of the all India marine fish production while inland fish production of the state was little more than one and half per cent of the all India inland fish production. Gujarat’s share in the all India marine production has decreased.’’ Pointing out skewed development in inland fisheries, the CAG observed, “Under inland fisheries, against the potential of 2.49 lakh MT per annum of fish production, the department has so far exploited 45% only. In inland fisheries schemes, target achievement of sub-schemes ranged from nil to 421.43%.

Audit observed higher achievement in some sub-schemes due to higher demand by the beneficiaries under those sub-schemes. The additional funds required were re-appropriated from sub-schemes where funds were not required.

The department did not have a marketing policy critical to its success, but it was assisting the small vendors, processing plant owners, etc. through sub schemes like insulated box, assistance to women self-help groups, upgradation of processing plants and machinery, etc.

The scheme for Fish Culture Cage under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was not implemented during 2012-17. While in the state scheme for Fish Culture Cage, no expenditure was incurred during 2014-15 and 2016-17. In both the schemes, while the department parked the funds with other agencies, it reported utilization of funds by showing achievement of financial targets.

The department mapped only 12,165.80 ha of land for brackish water aquaculture up to September 2017 against the availability of 89,340 ha of land. Besides. only 1,842.21 ha of land was brought under brackish water aquaculture during April 2012 to September 2017.

The department failed to carry out works for the construction of nine new harbours as envisaged in the 12th Five-Year Plan, thereby depriving better facilities to the fishermen and fishing community.

As on March 31, 2017, there was a shortfall in release of funds for subsidy of Rs 310.50 crore for reimbursement of diesel subsidies to fishermen. The government of Gujarat had not issued any directions for adoption of a uniform fishing ban period, thereby defeating the objective of conserving and effective management of fishery resources.