KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, July 13: The minerals-rich West Singhbhum is all set to become a flourishing fish cultivation hub soon.
With a view to promoting fish production, the state government has initiated steps to turn exhausted and abandoned mines into ponds for fish cultivation on a large scale.
The dynamic step aiming at turning into a fish-production hub became evident as Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Department, Badal Patralekh inaugurated a fish market at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum on Thursday.
“The step to turn exhausted mines, mostly iron ore mines, into water-bodies for fish cultivation is a brain-child of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. This mining belt will soon be turned into a fish production hub. The people of this region will not only get a viable business opportunity by engaging a large number of people in fish cultivation, but also providing nutritional security as fish is considered to be full of protein, ” observed Patralekh while addressing the audience at a function organised on this occasion.
The minister said for the promotion of fish cultivation, the fishery department will provide all sorts of financial support at a subsidised rate, expertise for fish cultivation and also ensure a suitable market.
The minister pointed out that the setting up of an exclusive fish market at Chaibasa is the beginning of the fish-production activities to be embarked upon soon.
The function was attended by West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal, MP Geeta Koda, local legislator Deepak Birua and senior officials of the state’s fishery department.
