The East Godavari Fisheries Department has taken up the boat [craft] tracking system implementation on pilot basis in the district. The authorities got the system known as Volty System developed by a software company in Hyderabad and the same has been installed in nine mechanised and motored boats after successful implementation of the same in Guntur distinct. The authorities are expected to consider for installation of the system after observing the same for a specific period of two months As per the details available, the system will not only track the movement of fishing boats on sea waters but also provide the geo-fencing to the boats as the fishermen travel 100 kilometres and beyond while fishing. The system provides round-the-clock information about each boat and its crew. In addition to this, during instances like cyclones, low pressures and other disturbances on high sea, the authorities can track the whereabouts of the boats and can ask the crew to return to safer places or to the jetty from where the boat started. There are 2,601 motor and 396 mechanised boats in the district which venture in to sea for fishing from different jetties in the district. These include the Vakalapudi Fishing Harbour in Kakinada rural, Bhairavapalm in I Polavaram mandal, Odalarevu in Konaseema, Uppada , Aminabada in U- othapalli mandal. Dummulapeta and Pavlova Peta in Kakinada urban and other places. Representative of the Volty System, Rama Seshu, said that the AP authorities awarded the contract to their company, for supply in Guntur. We are in for consideration for supplies after the pilot basis installations in both East and Visakhapatnam districts, he said. East Godavari Fisheries Deputy Director Dr S Anjali said that as far as the price of Volty system is concerned, the government is yet to take a final decision on the selection including the subsidy factor. The geo-fencing will help the department to warn the boats on sea whether it is near the border of any neighboring country and in danger of crossing the international borders , he said.
2017 Hyderabad Media House Limited/The Hans India.