In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Surat District Panchayat will give out 77 village ponds on rent to agencies to carry out fish cultivation, with an aim to generate additional income that could be utilised for development works.
Sources in the Surat District Panchayat said the fisheries department officials have been carrying out a survey for the last three months in different villages to identify the ponds which remain filled with water all through the year.
Following the exercise, 77 ponds in different villages in Surat district were identified and found feasible for fish farming. The officials talked to the village sarpanchs and convinced them that the revenue incurred could range between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 10 lakh per year, depending upon the size of the pond, said the sources.
Following the nod from the sarpanchs, the department officials prepared a final report and handed it over to Surat District Development Officer Shivani Goyal.
Sources in District Panchayat said that out of 77 ponds in 70 villages, 57 are in Olpad taluka; eight in Mandvi; three each in Mahuva, Mangrol and Palsana; two in Bardoli; and one in Kamrej. The fisheries department officials also collected a letter of consent from the Gram Panchayat.
Goyal said the tendering process will begin in the next couple of days. “The agency identified for the purpose will have a contract of five years for fish farming; every year, they will pay the rent amount to the Gram Panchayat. We are working on setting the upset value and agencies paying the higher amount will be given the contract. Our role is to carry out the tendering process and see if the condition laid out in the contract is being properly followed by the agency or not,” said Goyal.
Clarifying that there is no restriction on villagers using the water, she said, “There are some villages that have refrained from giving the ponds for the purpose, but once the fish farming starts in the 77 ponds, we expect them to come round.”
There are over 586 villages in Surat district and the survey was conducted in all of them. Throwing further light on the exercise, Goyal said, “There are ponds that get dried up during the summer season; they have not been included in the survey. We have made a provision in the tendering process that the agency should hire local youths to take care of the ponds and other activities related to fish farming.”
On the criteria for selecting the agencies, she said, “There is no barrier before the agencies; they can be from anywhere. The additional income generated through such ponds will help the Gram Panchayat carry out more development activities in the village, which would finally benefit the villagers. By giving the ponds on contract, their upkeep is also ensured since the agency will look after them.”