1,500 m tonne fish production likely

THE NARMADA Sagar Development Agency is trying to develop the Indira Sagar reservoir ? the largest reservoir of the country having an area of 913.48 sq km and capacity to store 12.2 billion cubic metre water ? as an ideal reservoir in the State for fish production.

THE NARMADA Sagar Development Agency is trying to develop the Indira Sagar reservoir – the largest reservoir of the country having an area of 913.48 sq km and capacity to store 12.2 billion cubic metre water — as an ideal reservoir in the State for fish production.

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The NVDA has got a study conducted by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) and an action plan for optimum fish production will be based on this study, Narmada Valley Development Authority Vice-Chairman Uday Kumar Verma said in Bhopal. He said fish production from Indira Sagar reservoir is estimated to be 1,500 million tonne per year. Efforts will be made both for increasing the quantity and ensuring cost beneficial production method. The NVDA has already started taking steps to develop infrastructure in this regard.

This includes construction of ponds in the periphery of reservoir for fish seeds collection under ‘garlanding scheme’. A sum of Rs 30 lakh would be incurred on this work. Besides fish collection centres and fish weighing centres would also be established at the cost of Rs 8 lakh.

Verma said that reservoirs of Narmada Valley projects significantly increase fish production in the State. Besides production of 1500 mt per year from the Indira Sagar, the Omkareshwar project reservoir is expected to produce 600 mt, Maheshwar reservoir 200 mt, Rani Avanti Bai sagar project reservoir 166 mt, Maan project reservoir 50 mt and Jobat reservoir is expected to produce 42 mt fish per year.

The fish production from the Narmada valley project reservoirs is also expected to provide employment to thousands of villagers of Narmada valley.