Balasore: The department of fishery has chalked out a plan to promote pisciculture in the water bodies at Nilgiri that have been created because of quarrying.

The water bodies having more than 50 feet depth are formed in quarry sites after extraction of stone materials.

Fisheries deputy director Sashikanta Acharya said the plan was mooted after Nilgiri MLA Sukanta Nayak had given a proposal to the department to utilise the abandoned wells at the quarry sites.

The proposal, sent to the state government, has been approved. Acharya said six wells had been identified for pisciculture in Mahisapata under Nilgiri block.

The wells have rain water all round the year and can be best utilised for fresh water pisciculture.

"According to the plan, caged pisciculture, mainly of the pangasius variety, would be undertaken in these water bodies by newly formed societies. The area of water bodies formed in six abandoned quarries is around 15 acres. The department will provide the society members training about caged pisciculture," said Acharya.

"Registration of two societies is under process. This would contribute to enhance economic strength of the area," he said.

Regarding developing the unutilised water bodies, a meeting was held at Machhua on Tuesday, attended by the officials of the fishery department and stakeholders. While one water body is of 100 acres, the other wells are between 10 to 12 acres, said a department official.

"Each society should have at least 51 members. One society has 63 members and the other has 55 members. The societies would be given long-term lease of these water bodies," the official said.