New avenues for fish industries in Narmada valley reservoirs

Bhopal, July 28 (UNI) Seven major reservoirs in the Narmada Valley would provide cumulative water area of 84,647 hectares for fish cultivation in Madhya Pradesh, according to the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute.

Scientific and strategic measures are being deployed to exploit fishing prospects from these reservoirs -- developed by the Narmada Valley Development Authority -- and a continuous production of 3,500 metric tones per year would be ensured, an official release said here.

Madhya Pradesh boasts to possess largest man-made reservoir in the country made out of Indira Sagar irrigation and power project over river Narmada in Khandwa district. A total of 913 sq km spread of this reservoir provides 59,029 hectare water area for fish production.

The second largest water body is Sardar Sarovar reservoir area under Madhya Pradesh. This provides 10,000 hectare water body. In addition, Omkareshwar project reservoir (Khandwa) provides 8,330 hectare, Man reservoir (Dhar) provides 696 hectares, Jobat reservoir (Jhabua) provides 946 hectares, Upperbeda reservoir (Khargone) provides 830 hectare and Maheshwar project reservoir (Khargone) would provide 4,816 hectares water body for quality fish cultivation.

Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) Chairman and Minister of State for Narmada Valley Department Nagendra Singh informed that the NVDA was moving towards formulation of a well-thought strategic plan aimed at exploiting full fish potential of these reservoirs with providing employment and subsidiary benefits to the displaced families due to reservoirs, the release added.

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