In Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, where fishing had been suspended for a while due to naxalism, it has now resumed.
The Dubbatota settlement was formerly a major fishing hub, and visitors would travel here in huge numbers. However, during a dark period of Naxalism, the fishing industry was severely affected. Even the fishing hatchery was destroyed by the Naxalites in 2005.
According to Haris S, the District Magistrate of Sukma, commerce has picked up since the Naxalites’ wrecked fish hatchery was rebuilt.
“The fishing business in Dubbatota in the Sukma district has resumed after the Naxalites disrupted the fishing activities and demolished the fish hatchery in 2005. But now it has been reconstructed by the state and district government, it will aid in both income and employment generation in the area,” the District Magistrate said.
There is a huge demand for fish here because it is a border area. Now with a hatchery opening here, it will also serve the demands of the area. All those who are interested in fishing are coming ahead. There is a huge scope in fishing and if the industry is developed properly, it will bring great results,” the DM further said.
The locals used to be afraid to venture outside in the area, but today they are able to do more than simply fish, they can also employ many others.
The owner of a local fish shop, Savlam Joga, stated that they anticipate a successful sale in the upcoming days.
“We are carrying out fishery business here. After breeding the fishes, we put them in the hatchery. We have different breeds of fish. While some fishes give eggs in months, for other types of fishes’ hatch eggs only in a year’s time. Some fishes sell at Rs 600-Rs 700 per kilogram and people come from faraway places to purchase them. we earn quite well with it,” he said.
Prem Bhibha, a member of the Matsya Samiti Dubbatota said that they are expecting the business to touch around a lakh by this year.
“The business started around 1993 but stopped after that due to the locals. Now, it again resumed last year. We get payment at the government rate of Rs 280 a day and 15 local people are employed here. People from nearby villages purchase our stocks in large numbers. It has just started, and we are expecting the business to reach around a lakh by this year, he said.
