Fish sport activities in Kol Dam soon: Minister

Una, December 16

The state Fisheries Department will soon start sports activities in the Kol Dam reservoir situated in Bilaspur district. Fisheries Minister Virender Kanwar, in a press note issued here today, said that stocking of seeds of sport fish like Mahseer had begun in the reservoir, which has a capacity of 56 crore cubic metres.

The minister said that fish sport activities were aimed at benefiting local families, including about 350 families that were displaced after the area was submerged under the artificial water body. The dam was created to produce 800 MW of hydroelectricity.

Around 350 displaced families were today engaged in fishing and the proposed sports activities in the reservoir would attract anglers, thus providing an alternative livelihood opportunity to locals and boosting tourism.

He said that the government would train locals in the services, which they would provide to the visiting nature enthusiasts. Besides, necessary infrastructure and equipment would also be made available. Kanwar said that rest places such as angling huts were being set up near the catchment areas of various reservoirs in the state for fish sport lovers to stay.

Kanwar said to boost the number of fish in the reservoirs, the department was conducting a preliminary survey to identify land and water resources in their proximity to construct fish hatcheries and rearing ponds. — OC