Chhattisgarh News : Chhattisgarh is gearing up for a transformative leap in its fisheries sector. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and with the backing of the Central Government, the state will soon witness the establishment of its first-ever Aqua Park at the Hasdeo Bango reservoir in Korba district. Funded through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, the Central Government has approved a grant of over ₹37.10 crore for the project. Spanning large areas of the Etmanagar and Satrenga submergence zones, this innovative Aqua Park is set to revolutionize the state’s fisheries landscape—from fish breeding and processing to marketing, exports, and aqua tourism—greatly boosting local incomes. CM Sai thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning the funds and supporting the initiative.
State-of-the-Art Infrastructure for Fish Farming and Tourism
The Aqua Park will be split into two core zones:
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Etmanagar will feature industrial facilities like a feed mill, hatchery, recirculatory aquaculture systems (RAS), and a modern fish processing unit equipped to handle international-grade packaging and exports.
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Satrenga, a popular tourist destination, will focus on aqua tourism infrastructure such as an aqua museum, angling stations, floating houses, motorboats, cafes, and water sports facilities.
The comprehensive setup at Etmanagar will support the full fish value chain, from seed production and nutritional feed to advanced processing methods such as filleting, deboning, and hygienic packaging for export. Satrenga’s developments will attract tourists and create employment opportunities for local communities.
CM: Project to Transform Chhattisgarh’s Fisheries Sector
Terming the Aqua Park a game changer, CM Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said the initiative would introduce world-class practices in fish farming, making Chhattisgarh self-reliant in the fisheries domain. He noted the high international demand for Tilapia fish and emphasized how the park will facilitate increased production and open up new export markets, especially in the US and Europe. He also congratulated the state’s fish farmers on this milestone.
Cage Culture Already Empowering Local Communities
Currently, around 800 cages are functional in the Hasdeo Bango reservoir, supporting over 160 fish farmers from nine different societies. Each farmer manages five cages, earning an average annual income of ₹90,000. The reservoir yields roughly 1,600 metric tonnes of fish annually, offering steady employment to about 70–80 individuals and supporting local vendors. Fish varieties such as Tilapia and Pangas are primarily farmed, with Tilapia already being exported in small quantities.
With the Aqua Park’s expansion, the state plans to further scale up production, improve export capacity, and train local communities in modern fish farming techniques. The rise in aqua tourism will also draw visitors nationwide, further enhancing livelihoods and economic development in the region.