Kolkata: A committee has been set up for further development in the sector of fisheries.
Speaking on the same, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "A committee comprising seven to eight departments has been formed. 2.5 lakh ponds have been curated under the Jal Dharo Jal Bharo Prakalpa to encourage pisciculture."
Banerjee further said that fishes still have to be imported from other states. Steps have been taken to make Bengal self-sufficient in this regard.
Initiatives have been taken for pisciculture in 700 ponds to produce big fish, which take two years to grow.
She further said that a pisciculture research centre has been set up for further development in the sector. Initiatives have also been taken for production of hilsa in the state itself, she added.
The state Fisheries department is also ready to help if anyone is interested in the pisciculture sector. Initiatives have been taken to utilise unused water bodies in the state for pisciculture. The state Fisheries department has also prepared a roadmap to increase the production of fishes in the next couple of years.
It may be mentioned that the overall production of fishes in the state was 17.42 lakh metric tonnes last year. The Fisheries department is taking a series of steps to increase the production in the current year.