The Fisheries Department to Host River Ranching Initiative at Sant Ravidas Ghat in Effort to Protect Meen Chitala Population
In a bid to preserve and boost the population of the endangered Meen Chitala fish species, the Fisheries Department is set to organize a river ranching program at Sant Ravidas Ghat along the Ganga River. The event will take place on Tuesday and will feature prominent dignitaries.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Livestock, and Milk Development Purushottam Rupala, along with former Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, are slated to attend this important conservation initiative. The program will be presided over by Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister of the Fisheries Department, Sanjay Kumar Nishad.
NS Rahmani, Joint Director of the Fisheries Department, explained that this river ranching program has been initiated to promote and protect the Meen Chitala species, which has been categorized as ‘near threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The project not only aims to bolster the Chitala population but also seeks to restore ecological balance in the region.
Through this program, the endangered Chitala fish can be rescued from their precarious status, ensuring a future abundance of their breeders. Additionally, this initiative promises to make protein-rich and nutritious food more readily available to the public while simultaneously increasing the income of fish farmers.