Minister Ramesh Dhawala informs that Government of India has sanctioned Rs 6.68 crores for Himachal Pradesh under National Mission for Protein Supplements during the current year as a sub-component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to increase fish production from reservoirs. He also said that government is exploring the scope of enhancing fish production from the existing water bodies in the state and added that Rs 2 crore will be spent during the current financial year under MNREGA for development of fish ponds in the rural areas of the state. He said that 7380.96 tons fish production was registered in the state fetching a revenue of Rs 2 crore during the previous financial year whereas 1065.08 tons fish production had been registered upto June earning a revenue of Rs 42.73 lakhs during the current year.
Fisheries Minister directed the officers to ensure strict quality control in the construction works and added that funds allocated for developmental works should be utilized properly within a time bound manner. He said that there was immense scope for generating employment avenues in fisheries sector and asked the officers to motivate unemployed youth to avail the benefits of the schemes being implemented by the government besides formulating new innovative projects for funding from centre government.
Secretary, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Ram Subhag Singh said that there is a provision of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of trout raceways in tribal areas of the State during the current year. He said that ponds after construction are being leased out to scheduled caste farmers for encouraging them to undertake fish culture on scientific lines and the lease money was going to the concerned panchayat as its revenue. He said that 26 community ponds have been constructed and renovated in various districts during 2010-11 and added that a provision of Rs 22 lakhs has been made for the same for the current year. Funds to the tune of Rs 9 lakhs have already been sanctioned to the concerned panchayats for construction and renovation of 9 ponds.
