A New Era in Fisheries Begins in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, 21 July

A new era in the field of fisheries is about to begin in Chhattisgarh. Thanks to the efforts of Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai and support from the Central Government, the state’s first Aqua Park will soon be established in the Hasdeo Bango submergence reservoir located in Korba district. Over Rs. 37.10 crore has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for the project.

This Aqua Park will span across hundreds of acres of the submergence reservoir in Etma Nagar and Satrenga areas. Its development will bring a revolutionary transformation to fisheries in the state, boosting incomes for rural communities through fish production, processing, sales, exports, and aqua tourism. Chief Minister Mr. Sai expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and the Central Government for sanctioning funds for the park’s establishment.

The Aqua Park in the Hasdeo Bango reservoir will include two main zones:

Etma Nagar will host a feed mill, fish processing plant, hatchery, and recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS).

Satrenga will focus on aqua tourism, with the development of a museum and additional tourist facilities.

In Etma Nagar, comprehensive facilities will be developed, covering everything from fish production to processing, marketing, and international export. Hatcheries will produce fish seed, while the feed mill will produce supplementary nutritious feed. The fish processing plant will handle cleaning, deboning (to create fillets), and high-quality packaging for export. The Satrenga site will also feature an Aqua Museum, showcasing various species of fish for educational purposes.

Since Satrenga is already a popular water tourism destination, additional facilities like angling desks, cafeterias, floating houses, motorboats, and water sports will be introduced. These will further boost tourism, generate local employment, and improve rural livelihoods.

“Aqua Park Will Give a New Direction to Fisheries in the State” – Chief Minister Mr. Sai

Upon receiving approval for the Aqua Park, CM Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the state’s fish farmers. He said the park would introduce new advanced fish farming techniques and modern processing and packaging units, providing a new direction to Chhattisgarh’s fish industry. He emphasized the high international demand for Tilapia fish, stating that this initiative would open global trade opportunities for the state’s fish farmers. He described the project as a significant step toward self-reliance in fisheries.

Currently, Fish Production Ongoing in Around 800 Cages; Over 160 Fishermen Benefiting

Currently, there are around 800 cages installed in the Hasdeo Bango reservoir’s submergence area. Under the guidance of fisheries department officials and technical experts, about 160 members from 9 fishermen’s cooperatives are actively engaged in fish farming, with each member allotted five cages. These members earn an average net income of Rs. 90,000 annually from cage culture.

Fishermen like Mr. Deepak Ram Manjhiwar, Mr. Amar Singh Manjhiwar, and Mrs. Devmati Uike stated that cage culture has not only provided employment but also improved their economic conditions through increased fish production.

The region produces approximately 1,600 metric tons of fish annually. Cage culture provides direct employment to 70–80 people, while an additional 20–25 vendors and small retailers benefit daily from the fish supply.

Experts and department officials have trained locals in advanced techniques. The main species produced in the Hasdeo Bango reservoir are Tilapia and Pangas. Tilapia, in particular, is in high demand in the U.S., and limited exports have already begun. With the establishment of the Aqua Park, production will increase, and exports to the U.S. and Europe are expected to rise.

This will link many rural residents to the fish trade and accelerate regional economic development through increased incomes.

With the expansion of the Aqua Park and the establishment of a demonstration unit in Etma Nagar and Satrenga, tourism is set to rise. People from across the state and country will be able to enjoy both recreation and various delicious fish cuisines, generating local employment and boosting incomes further.