Prayagraj: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the fisheries department has decided to divide six rivers flowing through Prayagraj into 38 separate zones and allot fishing rights through an auction process. Officials believe the move will not only create additional sources of income for fishermen but also increase the department’s revenue.The decision covers stretches of Ganga, Yamuna, Varuna, Mansaita, Tons and Belan rivers. According to officials, the zones have been demarcated across the tehsils of Meja, Koraon, Handia, Bara, Sadar and Phulpur.The length of the identified zones ranges from three to eight kilometres, and a separate minimum auction value has been fixed for each stretch. In Sadar tehsil, for instance, two zones have been created along Yamuna, including a five-kilometre stretch from Mainapur and Asrawe Khurd to Bisauna and a three-kilometre stretch between Adampur and Karahanda.Similarly, six separate zones have been identified in Bara tehsil along different stretches of Yamuna. Meja tehsil has 10 zones spread across Ganga and Tons rivers, while Karchhana has eight zones covering Yamuna, Tons and Ganga. Two zones have been created in Handia, while Koraon and Phulpur have also been included under the new arrangement.Officials said the leases would be awarded through an open bidding process. The minimum auction value has been fixed at Rs 20,360, while the highest base price of Rs 54,285 has been set for a stretch of Belan river.The department expects the new system to improve management of water resources while ensuring better economic opportunities for the local fishing community.
