Fisheries department started planting fish seeds in Govind Sagar, 50 lakh seeds to be planted

The Fisheries Department has initiated the process of planting fish seeds sourced from Kolkata in Govind Sagar Lake. Director Vivek Chandel announced that over 50 lakh fish seeds will be distributed across various parts of the lake.

Throughout the month, fish seeds will be planted in Govind Sagar Lake through multiple consignments from Kolkata. The first consignment, consisting of 5 to 8 lakh seeds transported via two trucks, was placed near Luhanu Maidan after arriving in Bilaspur on Friday. The seeds include five varieties: Rohu, Katla, Mirage, Silver Craft, and Grass Craft. Following Luhanu Maidan, seeds will also be planted near Bhakra Dam, Lathiana, and Raipur grounds of Govind Sagar.

Director Chandel mentioned that more than 50 percent of the seeds will be planted based on the recommendations from a survey conducted by the Sipri Institute in Barrackpur. He highlighted that the Silver Crop production in Govind Sagar Lake was 1392 metric tonnes in 2012-13 but declined to 200 metric tonnes in subsequent years. To address this, the department conducted research and followed the Sipri Institute’s suggestions to restore Silver Craft production to its previous levels and increase overall fish production. Last year, Govind Sagar saw an increase of about 8 metric tonnes in fish production.

The fish seeds were tendered online, and three individuals were selected for the process. The first consignment, managed by Anvesh Kumar of Bilaspur, arrived on Friday, with additional consignments expected within a month.

Director Chandel emphasized the state government’s efforts to boost fish production in all reservoirs, providing employment opportunities for those in the fishing industry. The timely arrival of the consignment coincides with the optimal period for planting fish seeds, as the water level in Govind Sagar Lake is rising.

Assistant Director Pankaj Thakur, Assistant Director Vivek Sharma, Assistant Director Somnath, Fisheries Officer Bilaspur Baljit Kumar, and Ajay Kumar, Fisheries Officer Jagat Khana Vivek Kumar Kamal, along with members of the Fisheries Cooperative Society of District Bilaspur, were present.