Drought cuts fish output at Jalna's Somthana lake from 79% to 20%

Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane visited Somthana lake in Badnapur taluka of Jalna district and inspected the site in person. He walked around the lake area, spoke with local fishermen and heard the difficulties they are facing.

With the state currently facing drought conditions, Rane travelled to Badnapur taluka along with Jalna district guardian minister Pankaja Munde to hear directly from the affected fishermen. There, he reviewed the water storage levels in both the Rajewadi and Somthana lakes, the current state of the fisheries business, and the extent of losses suffered by fishermen.

Rane said that since the government has granted fisheries the status of agriculture, the administration intends to extend help to fishermen during the drought just as it does to farmers. Speaking to local fishermen, he said the fall in water levels in the Rajewadi and Somthana lakes has directly affected fish production. He clarified that the exact impact on water storage and fisheries would be assessed through panchnama surveys, and assistance would be provided accordingly as per the rules.

Due to insufficient rainfall this year, the water level in Somthana lake has dropped sharply. This has severely affected fish production, which has fallen from 79 percent last year to just 20 percent this year, causing major losses to fishermen.

Against this backdrop, Minister Rane directed the concerned officials to take the necessary steps to urgently begin desilting work at the lake. He also instructed officials to conduct panchnama surveys of the affected fishermen and take steps to ensure they receive government assistance at the earliest, similar to what is given to farmers.

Fishermen were also briefed on the Chief Minister's Matsya Sampada Yojana, aimed at boosting the fisheries business in the lake and increasing fishermen's incomes. Minister Rane urged them to make maximum use of this and other available government schemes.

The inspection visit was attended by MLA Narayan Kuche, additional district collector Ramesh Misal, fisheries commissioner Bhanudas Palve, assistant commissioner (groundwater) Ruta Dixit, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar regional commissioner Suresh Bharti, assistant commissioner Madhurima Jadhav, along with officials of the fisheries and irrigation departments.