Ajay Raina
JAMMU, July 13: The much-talked about proposal to upgrade subcontinent’s largest underground aquarium at Bagh-e-Bahu to the international level has been hanging in balance during the past over five years.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the proposal of construction of 22 meter long oceanarian type aquarium was mooted in the year 2008 keeping in view the increasing number of people visiting the existing 220 meter long aquarium, which has become one of the main attraction points not only for the tourists visiting the State but for the local people also.
The 22 meter long oceanarian type aquarium with moving escalator was proposed at the left over space after fitting up of the 24 caves including 13 small ones for holding fresh water fish, two large caves for holding marine water fish and nine medium sized aquariums for holding marine and fresh water fish.
Accordingly, the Department of Fisheries conducted an exercise and submitted tentative project to the concerned quarters including the then Minister for Fisheries, sources said, adding in the tentative report, the engineers suggested 66 feet long glass tunnel with 3.5 lakh litres marine water.
Keeping in view the practical difficulties to be faced during transportation of such a long glass tunnel, it was decided that the small sized glass tunnels to be used in the construction of tunnel.
However, the proposal has not seen the light of the day till date on the pretext of paucity of funds, sources informed, adding “it is pity that during the past over five years the Government could not arrange Rs 10 to 15 crore for the upgradation of existing 220 meter aquarium to the international standard”.
“The proposal is hanging in balance despite the fact existing aquarium in Jammu’s Bagh-e-Bahu area has started generating good revenue”, sources said.
At the time of its commission, the target by the Finance Department was fixed at Rs 3 lakh for the year 2007-08 and the revenue generated was Rs 31 lakh, in 2008-09 the revenue generated was Rs 47 lakh against the target of Rs 30 lakh, in 2009-10, it was 57 lakh as against Rs 38 lakh, in 2010-11, the target was Rs 50 lakh and the revenue generated was Rs 66 lakh, in 2011-12, the target was Rs 70 lakh and revenue generated was Rs 80 lakh and during the last fiscal, the target was Rs 76 lakh and the income generated was Rs 85 lakh.
Fish-shaped and largest underground aquarium in the country at Bagh-e-Bahu, hosting over 100 varieties of fish is being run by the Fishery Department.
Apart from looking at the fish in 24 caves, tourists also explore museum, multimedia centre, public gallery and the laboratory promoting aquatic awareness.
The entrance is designed in the shape of the mouth of a fish and the exit is in the shape of a fish tail.
The aquarium is a home to more than 100 different species of fish and some of the more attractive fish found in the aquarium are Pirhana, Parrot fish, Pakistani Butterfly, Marine Fish, Lion Fish, Shark etc.
When contacted, Director, Department of Fisheries, RK Dogra told Excelsior that “we had taken up the matter with Minister for Fisheries, Tourism Minister and also with Government of India for the upgradation of the aquarium with the construction of oceanarian type aquarium and they are ready to extend all type of help”.
“We are on the job and are collecting suggestions from the experts from Japan and Singapore as this project requires very sophisticated technology”, he added.
Hopefully the Detailed Project Report will be submitted to the Government in next two to three months in this regard, Dogra said.
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