Set up aqua development committee, officials told

District Collector Katamneni Bhaskar on Tuesday directed the officials of the fisheries department to set up a district-level aqua development committee for giving thrust to the development of aquaculture in the district. Presiding over the district-level Fisheries Committee meeting at the Collectorate here on Tuesday, the Collector pointed out that the district administration was sanctioning permissions to set up fish ponds through online to avoid delay. Upon setting up aqua zones and farmers’ committees, the online system would be improved further to sanction permissions, the Collector said. He said that there are several opportunities to develop aquaculture in the district and directed the officials to chalk out a detailed programme for the purpose.

While pointing out that the pisciculture should be promoted without causing trouble to the neighbouring farmers, he instructed the officials to increase revenue from the sector to Rs 11,000 crore from the current Rs 7,800 crore. He suggested them to use Godavari canals and other water sources for the development of pisciculture. Fisheries Deputy Director Lal Ahmad, Agriculture Joint Director Sai Lakshmeswari, Groundwater Department Deputy Director Ranga Rao and others participated in the meeting and clarified the various issues raised by the Collector.