Agartala, November 13, 2025: Tripura’s Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das on Thursday chaired a review meeting of the Fisheries Department to evaluate the progress of various ongoing schemes and projects implemented during the past six months.

Addressing the media personnel after the meeting, the Minister said that the review focused on fund utilisation, scheme implementation, and departmental achievements. He reiterated that the primary goal of the department is to make poor and marginal fishermen financially self-reliant through effective implementation of government schemes.

Das informed that efforts are underway to achieve 100 percent saturation of all central flagship programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He said special emphasis is being given to utilising unproductive waterbodies for fish cultivation to enhance production.

“Districts such as Gomati, Sepahijala, and Dhalai have recorded commendable progress in fish production, and steps are being taken to improve performance in other districts as well,” Das stated.

According to departmental data, Tripura’s annual fish production target is 1.17 lakh metric tonnes, while the current output stands at around 86,000 metric tonnes. Das added that the government aims to reduce dependence on imports and make the state self-sufficient in fish production.

“At present, only a small quantity of fish is imported from Bangladesh, while states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh supply to meet local demand. Our focus is to attain full self-reliance,” the Minister said.

He also instructed officials to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects and strengthen monitoring at the district level to enhance implementation efficiency.