Once dumping grounds, two Katihar ponds beautified to rear fish

KATIHAR: The campus of Bihar Special Armed Police (erstwhile BMP) where the battalion 7 is stationed, has got a new look. Two ponds which were in shambles and being used by the residents to throw garbage have been developed into beautiful water bodies where rohu, katla, mrigal and grass carp are cultured.
Dilnawaz Ahmad, assistant commandant of the battalion and the brain behind the project, said, “Earlier, the place was a big eyesore, where residents of the nearby area used to dump garbage.The pond was dug up and beautified in an area of 0.4 acres of land. Around 1,000 fingerlings were dropped for culturing rohu, katla, mrigal and grass carp. These fish species have gained a weight of around 1kg.”
Ahmad said an ornamental fish aquarium has also been constructed with household scrap material like worn-out septic tank pipes for giving support to roof made of fiber, auctioned helmets which jawans used to wear for making flower pots and other items. “Jugaad method was adopted for making this fish aquarium. We have 50 doctor fish, which are also known as spa fish. The aquarium is 15ft long and 12ft wide and has a depth of three feet. It was constructed at a bare minimum cost with the help of scrap material,” he said.
Elaborating on spa or doctor fish, Shambhu Prasad Nayak, district fisheries officer, said, “If someone puts his legs in the water, these fish species will kiss them (legs). It gives a therapeutic effect. Besides, we have 50 gold fish besides molly and black carp also. The black carp is the scavenger, which eats waste material generated by other ornamental fish,” he added.
Talking about the third pond, where the renovation and beautification work is going on, Ahmad said, “The pond is being developed in one acre of land with five feet pathway for devotees to offer arghya during Chhath Puja. It has staircases on the four sides with boating facilities. Apart from culturing fish, the pond will be used for other purposes. Our jawans and personnel from SDRF will also be provided training here for diving.”
Ahmad said concrete chunks, debris of a demolished houses and other materials were used in making the pond, the sideways and embankments. “Officials from the fisheries department, building construction department and municipal corporation helped us beautify the area,” he said.