Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar today remarked that Bahu Fort Aquarium Cum Oceanarium will become prime tourist attraction in Jammu region in coming days.
These remarks were made by the Minister during his visit to Aquarium Cum Awareness Centre, Bahu Fort to take stock of ongoing works on Phase-II of the project.
During his inspection, the Minister was informed that the establishment of Aquarium Cum Awareness Centre was proposed to be completed in two phases.
Execution of Phase-II works was started by the department through PWD (R&B) Department under Smart City Limited at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.57 Crores.
Underlining that the need for expediting work on Oceanarium under Phase-II, the Minister maintained that it (Oceanarium) will become a prime tourist attraction as first of its kind in North India and third such project in India.
He said the Oceanarium shall be harbouring various varieties of Marine Fishes in a Glass Tunnel with a holding capacity of about 4,00,000 Litres of water. He added that the Oceanarium at Bahu Fort will be developed as prime tourist spot.
He instructed for undertaking up gradation/face-lifting of some already existing structures so that the works on the same are completed by or before the opening of Oceanarium.
The Minister also directed the Officers of the department to carry out the implementation of schemes in private sector strictly in accordance to the guidelines of the schemes and achieve the targets in a stipulated timeframe.
He directed officers to work with zeal and zest to cover maximum number of beneficiaries under various Fish culture schemes allotted to them.
Stating that the Fisheries sector has vast potential for employment generation, the minister urged youth to avail benefits under the department’s schemes.
During the inspection, the Minister was informed that works on the Oceanarium involving certain technicalities are going on in full swing and shall be completed within two months.
While as phase-I of the project was thrown open in the year 2007, attracting good number of tourists, visitors on daily basis.
Among the visiting points, the project also comprises of Multimedia Hall where lectures regarding fish culture are delivered to the students and 24 number of Aqua-caves with different water holding capacities wherein more than 120 species of Fishes are being reared and put to display.
The Minister was accompanied by the Director Fisheries Abdul Majeed Tak; Joint Director Fisheries (Central) Jammu Masood Hussain Sheikh; Joint Director Fisheries (Chenab Valley) Jammu Gopal Krishan and other senior officers of the Department.