Juvvaladinne becomes a Symbol of injustice
Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour has become a glaring example of the injustice prevailing in the state, said YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Though the harbour was fully completed during the previous YSRCP government, it could not be formally inaugurated at the time due to the election code. Even after nearly two years, the coalition government has failed to make it operational, depriving fishermen of its benefits and directly impacting their livelihoods. YS Jagan questioned why a completed project has still not been handed over to fishermen.
Delay to Facilitate Privatization
He alleged that the delay is deliberate, accusing the government of allocating land in the area to a private defence company as part of a larger plan to displace fishermen from Juvvaladinne. He asserted that this reflects a clear attempt to weaken public ownership and benefit private entities at the cost of traditional fishing communities. YS Jagan assured that once YSRCP returns to power, the private company will be removed and all fishing harbours will be restored to fishermen.
₹26,000 Crore Coastal Development Vision
Highlighting his government’s vision, YS Jagan said that a comprehensive plan was implemented by mapping fishing communities across the state and developing infrastructure tailored to their needs. This included:
- ₹16,000 crore for 4 ports
- ₹3,800 crore for 10 fishing harbours
- ₹150 crore for 6 fish landing centres
With additional expansion plans, the total coastal development outlay reached nearly ₹26,000 crore.
Projects Near Completion, Yet Work Stalled
YS Jagan pointed out that substantial progress had already been achieved before the change in government. Ramayapatnam port reached about 95% completion, while Mulapeta and Machilipatnam ports had progressed to around 35%, with all approvals, land acquisition, and financial closures completed. Despite funds being secured and projects on track, works have been stalled for the past two years without any justification.
Rapid Progress in Fishing Harbours Under YSRCP
Several fishing harbours were also progressing rapidly during YSRCP governance:
- Nizampatnam – 62% complete
- Machilipatnam – 57% complete
- Uppada – 56% complete
Additionally, new harbours were initiated in Budagatlapalem, Pudimadaka, Biyyaputhippa, Vadarevu, and Kottapatnam, along with six fish landing centres across coastal districts.
Blueprint for a Strong Blue Economy
YS Jagan emphasized that the vision was to establish a port, fishing harbour, and fish landing centre every 50 km, creating a strong “blue economy” that would enhance incomes and living standards for fishermen. He criticized Chandrababu Naidu for never having such a vision or executing similar initiatives during his tenure.
Modern Facilities and Livelihood Transformation
The Juvvaladinne harbour, built at a cost of around ₹300 crore, was designed with world-class facilities including cold storage units, ice plants, boat repair workshops, drying platforms, and net-mending units. It has the capacity to generate around 41,000 tonnes of fish annually. The project also aimed to empower fishermen through ownership by enabling 1,250 mechanized boats, benefiting nearly 20,000 fishermen through a subsidy-supported model.
Concerns Over Fishermen’s Security and Governance Failure
YS Jagan also raised serious concerns about the government’s failure to protect fishermen from illegal fishing activities by outsiders. He cited instances where fishermen themselves had to act to safeguard their waters, while authorities failed to respond effectively, even in cases involving seized boats.
Failure of Governance Across Sectors
He stated that the current government has failed not only fishermen but also other sections of society, citing setbacks in welfare schemes, education, agriculture, and healthcare. According to him, the government has dismantled several key initiatives that previously supported the poor and vulnerable.
Assurance to Fishermen
YS Jagan assured that once YSRCP returns to power, the Juvvaladinne harbour and all other fishing infrastructure will be handed over to fishermen as their rightful assets. He also promised to implement cooperative ownership models, expand support systems, and establish dedicated corporations to strengthen fishing communities and secure their future.
