Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to auction 12 natural ponds in the city for fish farming, with an aim to generate revenue while ensuring their conservation and maintenance.
BMC Additional Commissioner Kailash Chandra Dash said the initiative would help generate revenue through the auctions while also protecting the natural water bodies. According to Dash, the BMC has issued a formal notification for the auction. The highest bidders will have to pay the civic body an annual fee of Rs 40,000 per acre.
Apart from fish farming, the lessees will be responsible for cleaning, beautification and regular maintenance of the ponds and their surroundings. They will also have to submit an undertaking that their activities will not damage the natural environment, embankments or other ecological features of the ponds.
The BMC said ponds with adequate water-holding capacity and suitable ecological conditions for fish farming would be selected. The initiative is expected to facilitate scientific fish farming while improving water quality, strengthening embankments, and ensuring regular cleaning and beautification of the ponds. Dash said the primary objective was not merely revenue generation but also maintaining the ecological health of the water bodies.
Regular cleaning, beautification and protection will be ensured through private agencies, he said. The initiative is also expected to help prevent encroachment, dumping of waste, illegal construction and misuse of the ponds. Besides, fish farming and maintenance activities will create employment opportunities for local residents, Dash added.