Agartala, Sep 03: The long-awaited inauguration of the Dhanpur Fish Market in Dhonpur Gram Panchayat was held on Tuesday, nearly nine and a half years after its approval by the then Left Front government in March 2016. The modern two-story market, constructed at a cost of ₹1.5 crore, was officially opened by Tripura Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das, former Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik, and local MLA Bindu Debnath, a native of Dhanpur.
Residents of Dhanpur, regardless of political affiliation, expressed appreciation for the efforts of the current government in completing a project that had long remained stalled. “It is commendable that a project approved nearly a decade ago has now been completed for the benefit of the people with sincerity and dedication,” local residents said.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Das highlighted Tripura’s potential in fish production, noting that the state currently produces only 64% of the annual demand of 1.17 lakh metric tons. “The remaining requirement is met by importing fish from other states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Our department is working tirelessly to boost local production,” he said.
Das encouraged citizens to consider fish farming as a profitable venture, citing examples of successful local entrepreneurs. Criticizing past neglect, he added that had the Left Front government prioritized the market project, it could have been operational much earlier. “Even though former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar represented this constituency for decades, Dhonpur remained neglected in many ways, including the fish market,” he said.
The Fisheries Minister also spoke about relief efforts following last year’s devastating floods and assured that financial assistance would continue for all affected residents. He emphasized that the government remains committed to making Tripura self-sufficient in fish production and has begun initiatives to utilize abandoned water bodies for fish farming.
MLA Bindu Debnath expressed gratitude to the Fisheries Minister and the department for addressing the long-standing need of the local community.
Former Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, in her address, criticized opposition parties for undermining government initiatives and emphasized the transformative efforts of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the establishment of the Fisheries Department in 2019.
