Centre considering Rs 100-crore plan for J&K's trout bowl: Govt

Srinagar, Feb 11: The government on Wednesday told the House that a proposal for establishment of a Trout Integrated Aquapark at Kokernag with an estimated outlay of Rs 100 crore had been submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

ìThe proposal for setting up a Trout Integrated Aquapark at Kokernag, with a proposed cost of Rs100 crore, has been submitted to the GoI under PMMSY and is presently under consideration,î Minister for Agriculture Production and Fisheries, Javid Ahmad Dar informed the House.

He said that the project shall be taken up subject to sanction and release of funds as per scheme guidelines and budgetary provisions.

Responding to a question by NC legislator from Kokernag, Zafar Ali Khatana, the government said Anantnag had emerged as the largest trout-producing district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Anantnag has emerged as the largest trout-producing district, with the fisheries sector primarily driven by cold-water trout farming, the government told the House.

ìAs on date, 379 trout fish rearing and farming units are operational in Anantnag district, comprising 10 government units and 369 private units across various tehsils,î the government said.

On production, the minister said, ìThe district records a total trout production of 5078.5 quintals, of which 2384.5 quintals are contributed by government units and 2694 quintals by private units.î

He said, ìTotal seed production stands at 23.80 quintals, including 20.80 quintals from government units and 3 quintals from private sector units.î

Providing tehsil-wise details of Anantnag, the government said the private and government trout units were distributed across Pahalgam, Sallar, Mattan, Shangus, Kokernag, Larnoo, Dooru, Anantnag, Qazigund, Shahabad Bala, and Srigufwara.

Pahalgam has one government and 29 private units, Sallar 65 private units, Mattan two government and 43 private units, Shangus one government and nine private units, Kokernag one government and 68 private units, Larnoo one government and 51 private units, Dooru four private units, Anantnag one government and 36 private units, Qazigund two government and 11 private units, Shahabad Bala 1 government and 26 private units, and Sigufwara one government and 27 private units.

With specific reference to Kokernag, the government said 69 trout units were operational in the tehsil.

ìKokernag has 69 functional trout fish rearing units, including one government unit and 68 private units,î the minister said.

The government trout farm at Kokernag, established in 1984 over 20 hectares, produces around 760 quintals of fish annually and 14.62 lakh seeds, the House was informed.

The government also said that ìno government fish rearing unit is presently under execution in the district.