RANCHI: Leasing of govt ponds will now be limited only to the panchayat level to engage them in fish farming to promote livelihood and economic prosperity.
State agriculture, animal husbandry, and cooperative department minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey announced directing the department to implement the directives within 10 days.
On Monday, Tirkey inspected different govt ponds in the capital, after which she issued directives mandating the department to ensure that locals of that particular area are given preference in leasing govt ponds to augment their livelihood.
During her visit to the state fisheries directorate park in Doranda and the Fisheries Research Center in Dhurwa, Tirkey was quite upset with its poor maintenance. The area was also littered with plastic and other unwanted items. She instructed improvements to be made within 10 days.
During the inspection, she also checked the attendance register and instructed absent employees to improve their work culture.
Tirkey sought district-wise data of govt ponds across the state from departmental officials. There are approximately 12,580 govt ponds in the state, with around 1,000 in Ranchi.
She said, “Regulations should be made soon to ensure that govt ponds under a panchayat's jurisdiction are leased to that panchayat's cooperative society. No one from other districts should be given a lease of that pond. This will enable locals to engage in fish farming and provide them with employment,” she said.
Tirkey also instructed amending the requirement of 300 members for cooperative societies and suggested forming smaller cooperative societies to benefit villagers.
During the inspection, it was revealed that the target for releasing fish seed this year was 2,500 lakh, but only 1,646 lakh seeds were distributed. The lowest distribution was in Lohardaga, with 60 lakh seeds. Tirkey instructed to pace up the work.
She also stressed involving women's self-help groups associated with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) in fish farming. “Initially, women's self-help groups from Ranchi and Hazaribagh districts will be involved in fish farming,” said a source.