Question : COASTAL RADIO STATION FOR FISHERMEN

(a) whether 18 coastal radio stations have been set up to facilitate the fishermen;

(b) if so, the details thereof, locations-wise;

(c) the dates on which the said stations were set up alongwith the cost incurred on setting up of each of these stations:;

(d) whether the said radio stations have started functioning:

(e) if not, the time by which these are likely to start functioning and the reasons for delay therein;

(f) whether the fishermen have not been provided with Walkie-Talkie sets so far, as reported in ` Rashtriya Sahara; and

(g) if so, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)


(a) Yes, Sir Under a programme on `Demonstration of shore to vessel communication system to coastal fishermen`, it was proposed to establish 18 shore stations in 8 states and 3 UTs of the country. It was also proposed to distribute limited number of walkie-talkies to fishermen. This was to be done in two phases. The states of Kerala in phase I and Maharashtra in phase II alongwith union territory of Lakshadweep had stated that they are not interested in participating in this programme. Later one station was added in Goa. Therefore, stations to be made were 14.

During the 8th Plan 7 shore stations in 4 states were set up and in the IXth Plan one shore station was set up. The remaining stations in the respective states are expected be completed during the financial year 2002-2003 (X th Five Year Plan).

(b) & (c) The details of the states alongwith the locations of the shore stations in phase-I is follows:

Sl.No.	Name of State	Location of	Date of	Remarks	the station	Commissioning
1.	Andhra Pradesh	Machilipatnam	31.01.1994	The Department had provided free of	cost Annual Maintenance for continuous	operation and maintenance of these	shore stations and equipment for a	duration of one year during 1997-98.	Subsequently they were handed over to	the state for confirmed operation and	maintenance.
Kalingapatnam	29.03.1994
2.	Tamilnadu	Nagapatnam	05.06.1994	Tuticorin	10.03.1994
3.	Karnataka	Malpe	30.11.1993	Hannover	10.06.1994
4.	Goa	Betul	17.02.1995	The total cost incurred on setting up	of these stations was Rs.1.25 Crore.

S. No	Name of State	Location of the station	Present Status
1.	West Bengal	1.Fraserganj, South	Training to fisheries personnel and	24 Parganas Distt.	selected fishermen completed by SAMEER,	and autonomous society under ministry	2.Shankarpur,	of Information Technology. In general	Midnapur Distt.	the performance of base station and	other equipment was found to be good.
The State Government has prepared an	estimate for carrying out and completion	of the residual work. SAMEER has	examined the proposal and work is	expected to be completed by 2002-2003
2.	Orissa	1.Chandipur, Ganjam Distt.	The tower at Paradeep has collapsed	2. Paradip Port,Paradip Distt.	during last super cyclone. The base	station unit has been sent for certain	repairs. In Chandipur the base station	was found to be in working condition.	However for complete functioning of the	shore station certain repairs have to	be carried out. SAMEER has examined	the residual work and work is expected	to be completed by 2002-2003
3.	Pondicherry	Periya -Veerampattinam	The civil works for establishing the	station and R.C.C. foundation for tower	have been completed. The electrical	work and installation of communication	tower is pending. Thereafter the	station has to be commissioned after	testing of all the equipment. Training	of the local fisherfolk part of the	programme. The system is expected to	commissioned during 2002-2003.
4.	Goa	Salegao, North Goa	The building for the shore station is	ready.	Tower has to be commissioned. Shore	station equipment as also the VHF sets	have to be tested. The system is	expected to be commissioned by	2002-2003.	The approx. expenditure is Rs.2.13 Crs.