Parliament Question: Allocation of Funds for Tamil Nadu under PMMSY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No - 1558 ANSWERED ON 28/07/2026 ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR TAMIL NADU UNDER PMMSY 1558. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C: Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state: (a) the reasons for Rs.1,240.95 crore in total project outlays approved for Tamil Nadu under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the actual central share released stands at a severe deficit; (b) the details of absolute quantum of central funds physically disbursed directly to traditional and artisanal fishermen in Tamil Nadu, year-wise during the last three years and district-wise including Tirunelveli; (c) whether the record-high central allocation under the current Union Budget will feature dedicated tranches for deep-sea fishing vessel conversions and modernizing fish landing centers in southern Tamil Nadu; and (d) what immediate financial relief and input-subsidy measures are being initiated by the Government to safeguard artisanal fishing families from severe fuel and operational input cost inflation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a): The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) accorded administrative approvals for the implementation of projects under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Tamil Nadu during the period 2020-21 to 2025-26 with a total approved outlay of Rs.1,240.5778 crore. This comprised a Central share of Rs.480.0906 crore, State share of Rs.455.6139 crore, and beneficiary contribution of Rs.272.8488 crore covering both Beneficiary and Non-Beneficiary components. The approved project outlay represents the total financial allocation for the entire scheme period, whereas the Central share is released in phases by the DoF, GoI based on the progress of implementation, submission of Utilisation Certificates (UCs), and compliance with scheme guidelines, etc. Accordingly, the Central assistance is released from time to time, and it does not represent a deficit in the approved project outlay. (b): The details of central funds released under PMMSY to Tamil Nadu, year wise during the last three years (2023-24 to 2025-26) and the details of central funds released under PMMSY in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu are provided at Annexure. The subsidy amounts are directly transferred to the beneficiaries bank accounts through Electronic Clearing Service (ECS).(c): To promote Deep Sea fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the DoF, GoI had introduced a sub-component namely “Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing” and another component of “Conversion of Trawlers into Resource Specific Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels” under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Blue Revolution implemented from 2015-2020. These sub-components were introduced to provide financial assistance to traditional fishermen for promotion of deep-sea fishing in the coastal States/UTs including Tamil Nadu. The financial assistance to traditional fishermen for acquisition of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels (DSFVs) has also been continued under the PMMSY at the rate of 40% subsidy for General Category and 60% subsidy for SC/ST/Women beneficiaries. Support for DSFVs is also provided by the DoF, GoI, under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). Under PMMSY, financial support is provided to traditional fishers for acquisition of deep-sea fishing vessels (DSFVs) as well as for Upgradation of Existing Fishing Vessels for Export Competency. Under the schemes of Blue Revolution, PMMSY, and the FIDF, projects amounting to Rs.1,314.81 crore have been sanctioned for the acquisition of 1,205 deep-sea fishing vessels by traditional fishers including the fishers of the Tamil Nadu State. The development and modernisation of infrastructure has been accorded high priority under the schemes implemented by the DoF, GoI. Infrastructure projects worth Rs 187.9 crores were sanctioned under Blue Revolution Scheme in Tamil Nadu, which includes fishing harbour project at Mookaiyur and fish landing centre at Kunthukal. Projects worth Rs 155.57 crores have been sanctioned under the PMMSY in Tamil Nadu, which includes three fishing harbour projects viz. modernization of Chennai fishing harbour, upgradation of Pazhayar fishing harbour, maintenance dredging of Colachel fishing harbour; and four fish landing centre projects viz. Nettukupam fish landing centre, Thazankuppam fish landing centre, Arangankuppam fish landing centre, and Goonankuppam fish landing centre. Under Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) scheme, 16 Nos of Fishing Harbours and 57 Fish landing centre have been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu at total project cost of Rs.1988.35 crore. (d): The subsidy/concession rate on fuel to the fishermen has been provided by the respective State Governments/Union Territories, by exercising their powers to frame their own taxation and welfare policies for the fisheries sector. It is informed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu that the Government is providing sales tax exempted diesel to the fishermen for reducing the operational cost of their fishing boats (Both mechanized fishing boats and motorized country crafts) and also providing subsidized industrial kerosene to the motorized country crafts operated in the districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts. Under these scheme, Government of Tamil Nadu is providing sales tax exempted diesel of 19,000 L / year / craft to 4,500 Mechanised fishing boats, sales tax exempted diesel of 4,400 L / year / craft to 13,500 Motorized country crafts and subsidized industrial kerosene of 3,700 L / year / craft to around 7500 Motorized country crafts. *****Annexure Statement referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1558 regarding Allocation of Funds for Tamil Nadu under PMMSY put in by Shri Robert Bruce C, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha for answer on 28th July, 2026. A. The details of central funds released under PMMSY to Tamil Nadu, during the last three years (2023-24 to 2025-26) Rs in Crores Total Project cost Total GoI share Year Total GoI Share approved sanctioned Released 2023-24 116.1055 37.2046 30.5646 2024-25 152.1927 29.5485 27.8199 2025-26 74.3031 24.7677 24.7677 Sub-total 342.6013 91.5208 83.1522 B. The details of central funds released under PMMSY in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu Government Central No. of Year Name of the Scheme Category share share beneficiaries (Rs in lakhs) (Rs in lakhs) 2021-22 Insulated Vehicle General 6 14.35 8.61 2021-22 Insulated Vehicle Women 5 30.33 18.20 2022-23 Insulated Vehicle General 2 14.05 8.43 2023-24 Insulated Vehicle General 4 25.42 15.25 Construction of FRP 2021-22 General 47 94.00 56.40 boat with accessories Construction of FRP 2020-21 General 30 60.00 36.00 boat with accessories Two wheeler with ice 2020-21 General 14 4.13 2.48 box Two wheeler with ice 2023-24 General 10 3.00 1.80 box Three Wheeler with 2020-21 General 1 1.20 0.72 Ice Box Total 119 246.48 147.888 *****