Minister Hiten Barman

Minister's surprise visit

State forest minister Mr Hiten Barman visited the office of the fisheries department in Cooch Behar on Monday. He expressed his displeasure as he found lesser employees in the office. During his meeting with the officials he asked them to work in a disciplined manner.

Mr Barman told media persons that Cooch Behar district is lagging behind in pisciculture. The government have adopted an ambitious plan to improve the situation. The fishermen are also suffering for a long, as they are not covered by the concerned schemes. From now on they would get the necessary benefits from different development schemes offered by the government, he said.

The forest minister also said that the wetlands and ponds in the district would be cleaned up to extend irrigation facilities to the cultivators. Pisciculture would also be done in those water bodies. The matter would be taken up with the state fisheries minister to make the plan a success, he added.