STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Union Minister of State Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Dr L. Murugan visited the Aquarium-Cum-Awareness Centre Jammu on Sunday for on spot assessment of the day to day activities of the Fisheries Department during the last leg of his three day visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister was informed by the officer in charge, Chief Project Officer Fisheries Marketing/Aquarium Jammu, Masood Hussain Sheikh that the aquarium being one of the biggest underground aquarium is spread over an area of 30 kanals. The various components of aquarium are multimedia hall, Aqua tunnel, museum, fish mount and fish tail. There are 24 numbers of aqua caves with 9 medium sized with water capacity of 3000 litres, 02 large aqua tanks with water capacity of 14000 litres each and 13 numbers of medium sized aqua-caves with 1500 litre water capacity each.
The Minister was also informed that more than 100 nos of varieties of both marine and fresh water fishes have been displayed in the aqua tanks. In the museum section more than 500 fish species have been displayed for the research purpose of college and university going students. The Minister was informed that the aquarium remains open for general public throughout the year from 9 AM to 9 PM. The department is earning more than Rs 1 Crore every year. During the current financial year the department in the first five months has earned revenue of Rs 45 lakhs and more than 1.60 lakh visitors have visited the aquarium. The Minister was also briefed about the 2nd phase of the aquarium which is being contracted at an estimated cost of Rs 18.57 Crores. The 2nd phase will be walk through tunnel of 66 feet length, having a frame of 50 mm thick acrylic sheet which would hold above 4.00 lakh litres of water. The said project has been funded by Smart City Limited Jammu. After the completion of the 2nd phase more tourists will be attracted which will increase the economic activity in and around Jammu. The Minister inspected each and every component of the aquarium. At the end of his visit, Minister briefed the media about the various schemes being implemented for the welfare of the educated unemployed youth of J&K. The Minister also appreciated the staff for working tirelessly. The Minister informed the media that the government is importing better technology in the field of ornamental fisheries. For that purpose, officers would be deputed in other foreign countries for importing the latest technology in the said field.