Raipur, Chhattisgarh: The fisheries policy of Chhattisgarh is going to change. It can be approved in the meeting of the proposed state cabinet on 24th November. Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Ravindra Choubey announced this in Raipur on Monday. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was also present on the stage of the Fishermen’s Conference.
Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said at the Fishermen Conference organized at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium, Science College, Raipur, that instead of auctioning the ponds and reservoirs for fish farming, they will be given at lease for 10 years. It has also been decided to give priority to the people of the hereditary-traditional fishermen community.
Choubey said, “It is proposed to reduce the water area allocation limit of ponds and irrigation reservoirs by 50% to connect the maximum number of fishermen with livelihood. By reducing the limit condition of allotted water area from the value per member, the number of benefited fish farmers will be doubled.”
At the time of allotment of the lease of the pond and reservoir, priority will be given to hereditary fishermen groups and fisheries cooperative societies like Dhimar, Nishad, Kevat, Kahar, Kahra, and Mallah in the general area. On the other hand, priority will be given to the Scheduled Tribe fishermen groups and fisheries cooperative society in tribal notified areas.
It was told that under the three-tier panchayat system, the gram panchayat will have the right to allot ponds and irrigation reservoirs of up to 10 hectares on lease for 10 years. District Panchayat can give leases of more than 10 hectares and up to 100 hectares, District Panchayat more than 100 hectares and up to 200 hectares average water area.
The fisheries department will lease reservoirs, barrages of more than 200 hectares, and an average water area of one thousand hectares to fishermen groups and fisheries cooperative societies. The water areas coming under the urban bodies will also be allotted on lease for 10 years under the same policy.