Waterlogged land of farmers to be used for fish-farming

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 16

Here is some good news for farmers whose agricultural land had been waterlogged, and hence, lying unused for years. Now, the state government will get the waterlogged fields converted into ponds which can be used for fish-farming.

This was stated by Rohtak Deputy Commissioner-cum-Special Secretary (Fisheries) RS Verma while addressing a meeting of the sarpanches of the district, here, on Saturday.

“As per a survey conducted by the district administration, nearly 2,500 acres of agricultural land of the district’s farmers has been lying unused for years due to waterlogging, which was a national loss. Waterlogged fields will now be converted into ponds and used for fish-farming,” Verma said.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the sarpanches to get resolutions to this effect passed so that the Department of Fisheries could begin the process of making ponds. He clarified that the expenditure on the conversion of waterlogged fields into ponds would be borne by the state government.

“The ponds will then be handed over to the village panchayat, which will auction it for fish-farming. The panchayats adopting the scheme will be given a special grant,” said Verma.

He pointed out that the owners of the waterlogged land could give their land on lease to the state government for fish-farming.

Rohtak has a good potential for fish-farming and it can be a good source of income owing to its proximity with the national capital.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner said nearly 33,000 industrial workers had returned to work at around 1,200 industrial units in the district, while nearly 10,000 migrants had been sent to their native places in different states.