Bangalore to Host 4-day Matsya Mela from Feb 18
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 4: A four-day Matsya Mela 2011 is being held in Bangalore Palace Grounds from February 18 under the joint auspices of Karnataka’s Department of Fisheries and National Fisheries Development Board.
Bangaloreans can savour diversified delicacies of fresh water and sea fish food recipes, ready to eat products and learn preparations from expert chefs and at recipe competitions during the Matsya Mela.
A variety of ornamental fishes will be on display. Incidentally, the Matsya Mela being held in Tripura Vahini hall in the Bangalore Palace Grounds will be open to all without any entry fee.
Giving salient features of the Matsya Mela to reporters, Fisheries and Environment Minister Krishna Palemar, who also launched its logo said 144 stalls had been organised to showcase various development activities in the sector.
Live demos on aquaculture activities such as aquarium galleries, marine aquariums, aquatic plants exhibiting marine fishes such as Clown fish, Damsels, Sea Anemones and Lion fish would be held.
An interesting feature of the Mela is the cultural programmes by troupes, especially drawn from traditional fishermen folk groups from all over the country.
Corporate houses and traders involved in production, building infrastructure, processing, value addition and aquaculture industry would set up stalls.
Palekar said that over one lakh people from all over the country are expected to witness the event.
He said that state produces four lakh tons of fish including 1.5 lakh tons from inland fishery (in 4,500 lakes and other places) and seven lakh people were engaged in fishing and other related activity.
The minister said that the mela would help not only traders, exporters and importers, but also fishermen, aquaculturists and consumers.
The Department required 30 crore fish fingerlings, but only 10 crore was available. The rest was bought from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The fish seedlings are distributed to farmers and each gets a subsidy of Rs 5,000 while organisations could get Rs 10,000 subsidy, Palemar said.