The State Level Sanctioning Committee of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) approved a project proposal of the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department for construction of water ponds in private lands for fish production across the State. The project aims at creating ponds and tanks in 400 hectares of land during 2016-17 for production of fish. The beneficiaries would be provided subsidy assistance of 50 per cent under the project, said department Secretary Bishnuapada Sethi. A unit cost of Rs 7 lakh per hectare has been set for construction of new pond/tanks with sluice gates, civil works for water supply, aeration appliances and feed storing shed and Rs 1.50 lakh/ha for fish culture, which includes cost of fish/prawn seed, feed, manure, disease prevention measures and transportation charges. Each farmer would be provided support to undertake aquaculture on a maximum of 2 hectares of land. Site selection and identification of beneficiary at block level would be done by field level fishery officials. Cluster approach will be preferred for site selection to facilitate availability of fingerlings for stocking and other supports, said Sethi. He further informed that beneficiaries would be encouraged to undertake fingerling rearing at their own source. The total cost of the project is Rs17.50 crore. The Odisha Fisheries Policy, 2015, which envisages creating 3,000 hectare water area annually for doubling fish production in next five years, would support for creation of the proposed 400 hectare water area, he said. About 800 fish farmers would get the benefit with annual additional fish production of 2,000 metric tonne. Interested farmers having suitable land can avail bank finance for construction of pond for which interest subvention of 5 per cent would also be available.