A project to promote solar-dried fish is yet to get off the ground as the land, promised earlier, has not been allotted to it. The project, estimated to cost Rs 4 crore, was to process fish products scientifically, using energy-efficient and eco-friendly dryers and export dried fish to Sri Lanka and Thailand. The project was conceived following a request from the Visakhapatnam Fisherfolk Foundation (VFF). The district revenue department of the state government assured to grant eight acres in Nandupur village of Pedagantyada mandal three years ago for the project, which has not started yet, said the VFF executive director Arijili Dasu. Dasu added that VFF had made all necessary arrangements like 200 fisher-women, bank loan from State Bank of India, and technical support from the authorised Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS). The SBI provisionally sanctioned a loan of Rs 1 crore to support the project. The 200 fisher-women who were trained in fish post harvesting, value-addition and occupational methods from the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) were identified to work for the proposed plant. Supporting Dasu, APFPS chief executive officer YS Prasad also said that the dry fish project proposed by the VFF was important for the future of food sector in the state. Such projects have already been in the advanced stage at many advanced countries. We are ready to support the solar dry fish project, which is being delayed now because of the land issue. We will do our best once the VFF gets the land for the project, Prasad told TOI. A senior revenue official said that the process of land allotment to the VFF was delayed due to the objections raised by the fisheries department that the project report did not contain specific details on all activities. The VFF can now approach the new collector and K Bhaskar with a fresh proposal to get a positive response on the matter, he said.