Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, expressed today that the Bahu Fort Aquarium and Oceanarium is set to become a major tourist attraction for the Jammu region in the near future.
These comments were made during the Minister’s visit to the Aquarium cum Awareness Centre at Bahu Fort, where he assessed the progress of ongoing Phase-II project works.
During the visit, it was noted that the establishment of the Aquarium cum Awareness Centre is planned to be completed in two phases.
The execution of Phase-II works is underway by the department through the PWD (R&B) Department under Smart City Limited, with an estimated budget of Rs. 18.57 crores.
Emphasizing the need to accelerate work on the Oceanarium under Phase-II, the Minister asserted that it will be a prime tourist draw and the first of its kind in North India, being the third such project in the country.
He added that the Oceanarium will house a variety of marine fish in a glass tunnel with the capacity to hold approximately 400,000 liters of water. The Oceanarium at Bahu Fort is expected to become a significant tourist destination.
He instructed the team to undertake the upgrade and face-lifting of existing structures to ensure their completion by or before the Oceanarium’s opening.
The Minister also directed department officials to implement schemes in the private sector in strict adherence to established guidelines and meet targets within the designated timeframe.
He urged staff to work passionately to cover as many beneficiaries as possible under various fish culture schemes allocated to them.
Pointing out the vast potential for employment in the fisheries sector, the Minister encouraged youth to take advantage of the benefits offered through department schemes.
During the inspection, it was confirmed that work on the Oceanarium, which involves various technical aspects, is proceeding smoothly and is expected to be completed within two months.
Phase-I of the project opened in 2007, attracting a considerable number of visitors daily.
Among the features of the project, it includes a Multimedia Hall for delivering lectures on fish culture to students and 24 Aqua-caves with different water holding capacities, showcasing over 120 species of fish.
The Minister was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Director of Fisheries Abdul Majeed Tak; Joint Director Fisheries (Central) Jammu Masood Hussain Sheikh; Joint Director Fisheries (Chenab Valley) Jammu Gopal Krishan, and other senior department officials.
