DC Sachin Gupta reviews the implementation of the fisheries, horticulture, and mining department’s schemes

Rohtak, August 27, 2025: While reviewing the implementation of fisheries department schemes, Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta said that focus should be given to digging new ponds and promoting fish farming in saline water ponds. He directed the fisheries officer to encourage farmers engaged in fish farming to get water quality tested from time to time.

DC Sachin Gupta chaired a review meeting of the fisheries, horticulture, and mining departments at the Mini Secretariat. During the review of the fisheries department, he discussed fish pond development, fish seed distribution in rural areas of Sampla, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Pond lease scheme for Scheduled Castes, intensive fishery programs, and saline water fish production.

He said that under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, financial assistance is provided. For digging new ponds, feed, pond construction in saline/alkaline areas, and fish feed in saline water/alkaline land, general category farmers get 40% government assistance while Scheduled Caste and women farmers get 60% assistance. Under the intensive fishery scheme, financial aid is also provided by the government. For fish and shrimp farming, farmers can get a subsidy for installing solar systems used for operating pond equipment. The subsidy is given at the rate of ₹50,000 per kilowatt or 60% of the total project cost, whichever is lower, with a maximum limit of 30 kilowatts per fishery farmer. Scheduled Caste farmers also get a 50% subsidy on the first-year lease amount or a maximum of ₹50,000 per hectare (whichever is lower) for fish farming in panchayat ponds and government reservoirs, with a maximum limit of 4 hectares per Scheduled Caste fish farmer.

Reviewing the horticulture department schemes, he directed the district horticulture officer to encourage farmers affected by recent heavy rainfall and waterlogging to grow short-duration horticulture crops. He also reviewed farmer registrations under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana and Meri Fasal-Mera Byora portal. Officials were instructed to contact farmers whose crops were destroyed due to waterlogging and encourage them to take up short-term horticulture crops for income. He said branding of honey produced by horticulture farmers should be done, which will be launched by the administration to ensure better profits for them. He suggested the department coordinate with Hisar Agriculture University to engage pass-out youth as interns, allot villages to them, and spread awareness about schemes. He also said large farmers should be encouraged to prepare nurseries and organic farming should be promoted.

During the mining department review, he directed the mining officer to ensure that no illegal mining takes place in the district. Strict action should be taken against violators. He added that no mining site exists in the district. District Fisheries Officer Asha Hooda, District Horticulture Officer Dr. Madan Lal, and other officials were present.