Fish farm: status quo till stakeholders find solution

An expert committee can be constituted to find an amicable solution in connection with establishment of a fish farm in Kodaikanal town at an estimated cost of Rs.9.5 crore.

The committee may also suggest an alternate site for setting up the farm. Status quo will be maintained till officials and environmentalists arrive at a solution.

These decisions were taken at a meeting presided over by Fisheries Department Chief Engineer Thanga Prathaban held in Kodaikanal Municipal office here on Thursday.

To begin with, environmentalists objected to setting up fish breeding centre on marshland as such activity will destroy the last marshland, the prime drinking source to the town.

The Fisheries Department officials stated that pillars will be erected above the marsh land and tanks set up over it. Tanks will not touch the marsh land.

Only common carp variety of fish will be grown in the farm and some of them will be left in the lake to grow further.

An expert committee comprising environmentalists, ecologists, biologists and experts in relevant fields can be constituted to decide on the issue