KAILASHAHAR, July 17 (TIWN): At a time when Left Front government led by Manik Sarkar is claiming to be the clean administration, his cabinet colleague holding the charge of Fisheries Khagendra Jamatia on Thursday at South Chandipur, Kailashahar blamed corruption for under development of fishery sector.

Addressing the inauguration of fish feeding store, Jamatia alleged that the siphoned of fund of Fishery Department has been preventing the development of fishery sector in state, despite, sincere effort of the state government.

Jamatia addressing the gathering at Chandipur Rural Development block, he reiterated the government will not allow any unethical and corrupt practice. He further stated that earlier there was no fish feeding stores at the blocks but currently among 58 blocks, 45 stores are already in use. The stores have the capacity of 100 metric tons.

In the year 2003-2004 the production of fish was 6, 000 metric tons but at the production has increased to 64, 000 metric tons, said Jamatia. Stressing on the issue, he said that though the production has increased but still there is deficiency in the production to meet the need of the public of the state.

Currently to meet the need of the public, the state government has spent Rs. 100 crore to import fishes from different parts of the country and Bangladesh, said Jamatia. And also regretted that if the production of fishes would have been better than Rs. 100 crore which has been spent over the import of fishes could be utilized in the development of the other necessary sectors of the state.

Most of the small and big fish markets of the state are yet dominated by Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata and Bangladeshi fish varieties.

Recently, the Department has taken initiatives to fulfill the target of per head 22kg of consumption of fishes annually, said Jamatia. Currently the consumption is 16kg per head, annually, added.

Earlier the food and other materials required for the fish farming were been supplied from the Kumarghat and the materials would reached late in the area which will no longer linger.

The fish feeding store was built spending Rs. 8 lakh.

During the programme, Zilla Sabadhipati Kalpana Debnath and other were present at the programme.