ICAR-CIFRI established first Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha ranching station in river Ganga at
Farakka, West Bengal
Shri Babul Supriyo, Honorable Union Minister of State (Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public
Enterprises), inaugurated Hilsa ranching station at Farakka, established by ICAR- Central Inland
Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, in the presence of Dr. B.K.Das, Director,
ICAR-CIFRI and administrative and management personnel from different water stakeholders,
including Farakka Barrage Authority (FBA), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI),
Central Water Commission (CWC), and Fishermen societies, under the National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) on 24 th January 2018. The ranching station is of its first kind in India,
with major focus on Hilsa restoration and stock enhancement in the upper stretches of the river
Ganga. The station was conceived based on a short study carried out on hilsa population in the
river Ganga funded by NMCG, MoWRRD & GR. The study indicated that migration failure is
the major cause for decline of hilsa population in the upper stretch of river Ganga. Though
ICAR-CIFRI has looked into the various possibilities for hilsa improvement in the upper stretch
of river Ganga, ranching of hilsa was found to be one of the major intervention strategies. Dr.
B.K.Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI briefly presented the genesis, objectives and progress made so
far on hilsa ranching to the august gathering. Dr. Das explained that a total number of 117 hilsa
fish of average length 255mm and average weight 165g has been ranched from the station at the
upstream of Farakka barrage in river Ganga and assured to achieve the target with stipulated time
frame. During the station visit and discussion, the Hon’ble Minister emphasized for replicating
such ranching facilities in large scale for its visible impacts and suggested for installing floating
cages at suitable locations for rearing of the hilsa juveniles prior to ranching in the river Ganga.