Naidu warns fishermen from other states not to intrude into AP waters

Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh govt will display zero tolerance on intrusion by fishermen from other states into AP coastline, chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said on Tuesday.Naidu, who disbursed financial assistance of ₹20,000 each totalling ₹262 crore to over 1.3 lakh fishermen under the ‘Matsyakarula Sevalo’ scheme at Tummalapenta village in Kavali assembly constituency of Nellore district, made it clear that "the coast is ours and the catch is ours”, while warning fishermen from other states to not intrude into AP waters for fishing.Addressing a public meeting, Naidu reassured the fishermen community that the state govt has taken a serious note of the intrusion by fishermen from other states. Emphasizing that the state’s coastal wealth belongs exclusively to its local community, he announced the deployment of a 'Joint Action Task Force for Sea Patrol', which integrates the marine police, fisheries, and forest departments.“The government is using advanced drone technology and satellite imaging to monitor territorial waters and issue multi-lingual warnings to prevent illegal intrusions by fishing vessels from neighboring states,” the chief minister said. He added that to modernize the local fishing fleet, the govt will sanction 200 mechanized boats which would be backed by a 60% govt subsidy besides the diesel subsidy of ₹9 per litre. The initiative will be further backed by the installation of 4,550 transponders for maritime communication and safety.Focusing on sustainable livelihood diversification, the CM stated that the govt will initiate a specialized seaweed cultivation training module for women from fishing families and DWCRA self-help groups in collaboration with the central institute CSMCRI. On the infrastructure front, he highlighted the ongoing construction of the ₹288-crore Juvvaladinne fishing harbour as well as a larger ₹3,256-crore blueprint encompassing nine fishing harbours and eight fish landing centers across Andhra Pradesh.Promising to act personally as a “marketing manager” to boost global demand for the state’s seafood products, Naidu sanctioned ₹6.19 crore for the desilting of the North Buckingham canal to transform it into an inland waterway, while promising to develop Thummalapenta into a model coastal village.CM visits fisherman’s home, savours Chepala PulusuIn a warm gesture that delighted the local fishing community, the chief minister visited the home of a local fisherman, Tanangari Babu, in Thummalapenta village of Kavali mandal, where he shared a traditional meal with the family. After attending the official 'Matsyakarula Sevalo' program, Naidu visited the local fish market to interact with vendors and also purchased fresh fish from the women traders there.During the visit, Babu and his son Giri welcomed the chief minister, who enquired about their livelihood, fishing conditions, and local market sales. Later, he went to the fisherman’s residence carrying the fresh catch from the market. Babu’s wife, Venkamma, prepared a traditional fish curry for the occasion, during which the CM lightheartedly stood by the stove to observe the cooking process and even stirred the pot himself. He also spent time interacting with the family members, affectionately inquiring about the well-being of Venkamma’s daughter and her newborn baby. Setting aside official protocol, he sat on the floor with the family to have lunch, even serving the freshly prepared fish curry to his hosts.