KFDC chief bats for ban on fish export from Karnataka to check rising prices

coastaldigest.com news network

October 31, 2017

Karwar, Oct 31: In the wake of dropping fish catch and high prices of locally consumed fish, the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) has suggested the State government to impose a temporary ban on fisheries exports from its coastal belt.

The Goa government has stated that it is mulling to temporarily ban fish exports because it has created artificial scarcity in the state. Rajendra Naik, president of KFDC appreciated the move and demanded that export of fish should be temprarily banned in Karnataka too.

Rajendra said that he had taken a similar step about 15 years ago in Ankola when he was the president of Ankola municipality. "Then a resolution was passed by the municipality not to allow loading of fish in trucks carrying them outside Uttara Kannada, Goa and Kerala in all fisheries ports in the area till 1pm every day as there was complaints that the entire catch was being sent outside the district depriving the local people of the nutrient food," he said.

"The same system still continues in Ankola. Fishermen in the state avail subsidy on the boats and fuel which runs into crores of rupees every year. The subsidy is being provided from the taxpayers' money. This being the case, if the fish caught by these fishermen is sent outside by depriving the local people of fish, what is the use of providing subsidy to them? So the government should come out with a policy on fish export and only the excess fish after supplying in the local market should be allowed to export. Those who violate this should be barred from availing subsidy," he said.

Many small fishermen said that they too are the victims of the export lobbies. "We sell our catch to the local fisheries cooperative bodies. The agents of the export companies wait there and buy the same fish at high prices," said Lokesh Tandel a fishermen from Kumta.

"We are the victims of artificial fish shortage created by the export lobbies. The fish left over after supplying to exporters are being sold in local market and that too at a high price. Common people have to pay at least 400% higher prices in Karwar market compared to Ankola. So the government should take steps to curb this artificial shortage," said Shantaram Shet of Karwar.

Comments

Good trick.. keep market stable artificially.. increase demand maximum

Artificial scarcity, temporary ban everything is good. But before that should ensure upto what extend the poor fishermen will get benefited.

Artificial scarcity may cause in legal selling. Chances of black market may increase

Thats for good if it works for demand increasing

Good quality fishes should make available here first then rest can export.

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I opposed Cong-JDS tie-up during LS polls; high command didn't hear me: Siddaramaiah

News Network

July 9,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 9: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that he was opposed to a tie-up with Janata Dal-Secular in the last Lok Sabha elections but the party high command did not listen to him.

"I had suggested that we should fight alone (in Lok Sabha elections) because JD-S votes would not have come to us and our votes would not have gone to JD-S," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

Congress leader said that he was the only one to make the suggestion and he did not get support.

"I was the only one to raise a voice that's why it was not heard by (party) high command and I did not get support. We might have won over seven seats in parliament election if we had fought alone," he said.

After forming government in Karnataka in 2018 with support of JD-S, Congress had fought the 2019 general election in a pre-poll alliance with the party. Congress could only one seat of the 21 it contested and JD-S also won one seat of the seven it contested.

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Withdraw amendments to Land Reforms Act or face protest: Gowda to BSY

coastaldigest.com news network

July 28,2020

Bengaluru, July 28: Former prime minister and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda today threatened to launch a state-wide agitation in against the amendments made to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

Gowda’s opposition to the new law comes even as Congress leader Siddaramaiah is also doggedly pursuing it.

Demanding that the state government immediately rollback the ordinance empowering these amendments, the octogenarian leader said he personally would take to streets if the government failed to budge.

The B S Yediyurappa government has liberalised the land reforms law by removing restrictions on non-agriculturists from purchasing and owning farm lands.

The government has also amended the APMC Act and has tweaked labour laws, which are all “against the interest of the state and must be rolled back,” Gowda said.

Speaking to reporters here, Gowda stated that he had already written thrice to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in this regard. "The ordinances have to be taken back. The amendments to Karnataka Land Reforms Act, by repealing sections 79-A, B and C, is an anti-farmer move. The APMC Act amendment, too, is against the interest of the state. The government has failed to speak about the impact of these amendments," said Gowda, who is now a Rajya Sabha member.

Elaborating on the amendment to the Land Reform Act, the JD(S) patriarch opined that by throwing open agricultural land ownership to anybody at all, the government was only helping real estate developers while pushing farmers into a “vulnerable” situation.

Amidst all this, there are now reports of funds misappropriation in Covid-19 relief measures and in procurement of medical equipment, he said, adding that it seemed like only the corrupt became stronger over time.

Further, Gowda lambasted both national parties for creating political unrest, referring to the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan and the recent developments in Madhya Pradesh. However, he added that he would not wish to dwell on it much, while emphasising that his focus was primarily on strengthening his own party at this point in time.

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