Imphal, May 18: The Cold Storage and the Ice Plant of the Fisheries Department at Lamphelpat has been leased out to M/s Baba Fish Agency as no fishermen came to store their fishes, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who is also in charge of Fisheries informed the House today in his response to the discussion on the Demand of the Department.

Ibobi said the Cold Storage having a capacity of storing 10 metric tonne of fish and the 5 metric tonne capacity Ice Plant of the Fisheries Department have been given out on lease to M/S Baba Fish Agency after signing an agreement on March this year.

An amount of Rs 50,000 had been taken as security deposit at the time of signing the agreement and the Agency would provide a sum of Rs 18,000 for using the Cold Storage and besides another Rs 14,000 for the Ice Plant, the Chief Minister said.

While asserting that the fish farms under the Government are functioning smoothly, the Chief Minister admitted that the demand for fish exceeds production in the State.

There is also the issue of having given appointment to 800 people against non-existent posts in the Department, he added.

The Chief Minister further said that Takmu Fish Farm would be developed to play the dual role of a Water Sports complex as well as fish farm at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crores.

Apart from this, there is plan for removal of Phumdis from Loktak lake and providing Rs 13,000 to each of the fish farmers as assistance for purchasing fishing equipments.

Taking part in the discussion on the demand for the Fisheries Department, Opposition MLA O Joy pointed out that the existing policy of the Fisheries Department is ambiguous while MLA Dr Ng Bijoy emphasised on the need for formulating a separate policy on marketing of local fish products.

Putting up a Token Cut Motion, during the course of discussion on the Demand for IFCD, O Joy observed that the shutting down sluice of the Ithai Barrage to collect water from upstream is one of the main reasons responsible for causing flood in Manipur today.

He also demanded to know how long it would take for the Government to come up with a master plan for controlling recurrence of flood in the State and what steps have been taken up in this regard.

While maintaining that the survey and investigation of Dolaithabi Project had not been done by the Engineers properly, Joy drew the attention of the Government for early completion of the project.

In his response to the discussion, IFC Minister Phungzathang Tonsing informed the House that the State Government has made all the necessary preparations to control flood in the State.

The Government is also targeting to commission the Khuga Dam by May/June of this year and complete construction of the Thoubal Dam by 2007-08.The IFC Minister further informed that an amount of Rs 55.48 crores had been spend on construction of Dolai-thabi Project so far and this year a sum of Rs 23.38 crores has been included in the budget for the project which is being targeted to be completed by 2008-09.

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