Chief minister Raghubar Das launched Ranchi Aquarium on Wednesday and spoke admiringly about its exotic fish collection, but refused to be drawn into a discussion on the raging controversy over the Chhotanagpur and Santhal Pargana tenancy acts.

"CNT/SPT par thodi koi puchta hai abhi. Machli ghar ka udhghatan mein aaye hain. (Now one talks about about CNT/SPT when I have come to inaugurate Ranchi Aquarium)," Das shot back when The Telegraph posed a question about the government's next move with Raj Bhavan sending back the proposed amendments without its consent.

Talk fish, and not tenancy acts, the chief minister seemed to say during the formal launch ceremony at Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park at Ormanjhi where he also laid the foundation of an eco-park that is to come up within the zoo premises.

Admiring the Rs 3.6 crore aquarium, Das said this was a first of its kind facility in Ranchi. "I don't recall any better aquarium than this. This is truly the country's largest fresh water aquarium. It will soon become popular among tourists, especially children," he said with Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary and Khijri MLA Ram Kumar Pahan by his side.

Asked if more such facilities could be expected in other parts of the state, Das said the government would certainly explore such possibilities.

The aquarium, the civil work for which was complete in 2005-06, was held up because of various issues concerning funds, tender process and the selection of an agency to implement the project. Last year, the zoo finally chose Mumbai-based Utekar Fisheries for the job.

It has 58 compartments that house over 1,500 fish of around 250 varieties. There's a selfie zone too with a king-size painting of a mermaid for backdrop. "Otherwise visitors might start clicking pictures with the fish in the background. And continuous camera flash can adversely affect the fish on display," reasoned zoo director Ashok Kumar.

Among the fish species on display are exotic gold fish, basic gold fish, angel fish, Amazon river biotope, red bellied piranha, alligator gar, sting ray, paludarium, morph and frontosa.

A group students of Mount Carmel School, present during the inauguration, was thoroughly impressed. "I haven't seen so many beautiful fishes at one time. I loved the gold fish the most. Next week, I will come with my parents again," said Sushma Singh of Class V while leaving with friends.

Are you looking forward to a visit to the aquarium? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com