Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Illegal Fish Farming
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 274 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2025

## Illegal Fish Farming

## 274. Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of illegal fish-farming breaching bunds and flooding over 13,000 hectare of Khazan lands in Goa and the time by which the Government proposes to activate the Khazan Board, secure restoration funds, and prosecute offenders;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  ordered  independent  audits  of  Water  Resources Department  and  Agriculture  works  to  recover  cost  overruns,  and  complete  bundh restoration  within  six  months despite  Rs.  2.5  cr.  in  Ponda  and  Rs.  9.2  cr.  in  Neura  for repairs, faulty work, devastating farmers;
- (c) whether 60-70% of Khazan bundhs which are in poor condition and whether the Centre proposes  to  launch  a  10,000  hactare  Khazan  Rehabilitation  Mission  through  NITI Aayog/NMNA to repair sluice gates, desilt fields, and revive traditional water systems if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of present Khazan ecosystems' role in biodiversity, flood control, and saline resistant agriculture; and
- (e) whether the Government would integrate their conservation into CRZ/Coastal Mission funding and support youth-led co-ops and capacity-building and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

- (a): Department of Fisheries, Government of Goa has informed that the subject matter of Khazan lands and its related management comes under the Departments of Environment & Climate Change, Agriculture, and Revenue in the State and that there are no such details of illegal fish farming breaching bunds and flooding into Khazan lands have been reported. It is further informed that notifying the formation of Khazan Board comes under the purview of Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Goa.
- (b):  The  Government  of  Goa  has  informed  that  no  such  independent  audit  has  been ordered for the works undertaken by the Agriculture Department and as far as Khazan bunds works in Ponda and Neura the expenditure incurred on these works is within the limits of the approved expenditure sanction and both bunds are currently in stable condition.

(c): NITI Aayog has informed that there is no such proposals under consideration.

(d) and (e):  Khazan ecosystems play significant role in biodiversity and as informed by Government of Goa that their conservation and management comes under the purview of various Departments at the State level. Currently there is no such proposal for integrating their conservation into CRZ/Coastal Mission funding.  However, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI), financial assistance is provided to various fisheries activities including fish/shrimp farming. The scheme is under implementation in all States/UTs including Goa. During last 5 years under PMMSY the DoF, GoI has approved fisheries developmental projects  worth  Rs.  116.85  crore  in  the  State  of  Goa,  which  also  included  fish  farming activities. The approved activities envisage significant employment generation, capacitybuilding and holistic development of fisheries and aquaculture in Goa State.

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