Come July 2024 and the wait for state-of-the-art integrated fish marketing centre (IFMT) – first of its kind in the country – in Chandauli will end as the basic groundwork of this Rs 61.87 crore project was started on Wednesday. Coming up along the Varanasi-Kolkata highway in Chandauli district, this IFMT will improve the export of fishes from Varanasi region to other states. This centre will not only have facilities for wholesalers, exporters and fishery farmers, but will also have outlets for the lovers of dishes made of fishes.
“The process of awarding a contract to build the state-of-the-art IFMT, which will be first of its kind in the country, has been completed. Site clearance has been started and the company engaged in this regard will start construction of this Rs 61.87 crore project on a hectare land,” said district magistrate Chandauli, Isha Duhan, adding, “The modern IFMT will be operationalised by July 2024.” The officials said that in 2022 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while reviewing different development projects in Varanasi, had underlined the need to improve the export of fishes from Varanasi region to other states after which the plan for establishing IFMT at Chandauli was finalised.
During his address at the recently UP Global Investors Summit-2023 in Lucknow, the PM had highlighted the possibilities in the fisheries sector.
Deputy director fisheries (Varanasi division) NS Rehmani said, “The state government gave its nod to the IFMT project on March 30, 2022. The fisheries department has to give Rs 50 crore while the UP Agriculture Produce Market Committee, commonly known as Mandi Parishad, has to spend Rs 11.87 crore. We have released Rs 7 crore to the Mandi Parrishad so far. The Mandi Parishad has arranged a one hectare piece of land on its campus near Chandauli district headquarters.”
“With the finalisation of the tender process by the Mandi Parishad, the basic ground work has been started for IFMT project,” said Rehmani, adding that apart from executing this project, the Mandi Parishad will also look after its post construction maintenance with the help of user charges from the traders.
“Apart from wholesale and retail fish market as well as aquarium fish, the trading wing of the proposed IFMT will have all facilities for fish farmers including technical assistance,” said Rehmani, adding that an aqua food restaurant, which will be a star attraction for fish lovers of the region and for those travelling on the highway, would also ensure regular availability of sea food to popularize it in inland states.