Mail News Service
Chaibasa, June 22: West Singhbhum region is known as a mineral rich district and mining is a thriving industry in several areas. However, there are 26 discarded mines in the district where ores had been exhausted and they have been lying idle.
However, the district administration has drawn up a novel plan to utilize these discarded mines for fish rearing or pisciculture thereby opening up earning avenues for people. The Fisheries Department has already started preparations and initially cage farming, a process of fish rearing, will be launched in 26 discarded mine pits in Jagannathpur, Jhinkpani and haat Gamharia Blocks of the district.
The Jharkhand government as a part of its pilot project had initially launched cage fish farming in Ranchi and Ramgarh. This form of fish farming has also been launched at Pansuva Dam in Chakradharpur Sub Division and plans are afoot to start the process in entire West Singhbhum district.
District Fisheries Department Officer Jayant Ranjan said, “We plan to cover the entire district by initiating fish farming so that income avenues open up for local people. We have done the groundwork and sent the survey report along with the proposal to the state government. West Singhbhum has tremendous potential for pisciculture.”