Fishermen fear losses as fishlings release delayed again in Telangana

The delay in floating and finalising tenders for fishlings supply has left fishermen across Telangana worried. Against the target of 90 crore fishlings, only 11.31 crore have been released so far, affecting the growth and harvesting cycle for thousands of families.

Hyderabad: The Congress government marked World Fisheries Day on a grand scale, yet the fishermen community in the State remains anxious due to the delay in the distribution of free fishlings and the likely impact on their earnings.

Usually, the distribution of free fishlings begins in the July–August season. However, this year, the delay in floating tenders and finalising bidders for the supply of fishlings affected the timely release. Tenders are normally floated in April, but the exercise was pushed back this year for reasons known only to the Fisheries Department. The department had planned to procure 90 crore fishlings at an estimated cost of Rs 123 crore.

---

About five lakh fishermen families across the State depend on the free fishlings scheme for their livelihood. Every year, the government releases fishlings into 26,326 water bodies, including major, medium and minor reservoirs and tanks. Against the targeted release of 90 crore fishlings this year, only 11.31 crore have been released in 26 districts so far. Separately, there was also a delay in finalising tenders for the distribution of freshwater prawn seedlings.

Although tenders were floated on August 28 with September 8 as the last date, the response from bidders was poor. The department issued fresh tenders on October 11, and they were opened on October 22. Seven bidders submitted proposals, and officials are currently inspecting their hatcheries and water bodies, according to department sources.

The delay has left the fishermen community worried. The timely release of fishlings in the July–August season helps ensure good growth and harvesting in December and January. Any delay pushes the harvesting cycle further, while declining water levels in small water bodies and tanks from March may affect the growth and survival of fishlings.

Last year too, the State government proposed releasing 90 crore fishlings, but the tendering process was delayed until July and only 29.25 crore were released, which affected fish production across the State.