Lok Sabha Question No. 674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Fishing in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Adv Priya Saroj

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 674 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## Fishing in Uttar Pradesh

## 674. Adv Priya Saroj:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  district-wise  assessment  or  scientific survey during the last five years on the decline of native fish species in major rivers of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof and key findings identified in this regard;
- (b) whether the instances of fish mortality or population decline were examined in relation to  the  functioning,  data  integrity  and  compliance  of  Online  Continuous  Effluent  Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) in polluting industrial units and the action taken against non-compliant units;
- (c) the details of the environmental compensation levied and realised from industries for river  pollution  and  the  proportion  utilised  for  fisheries  restoration,  river  ranching  or  habitat rejuvenation in Uttar Pradesh during the last three years; and
- (d) whether any compensation, livelihood  support,  health  and food-safety  assessments have been undertaken by the Government for traditional fishing communities who are affected by river pollution if so, the details thereof and findings?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) to (c): As reported by  Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), survey has been conducted  in the six rivers of Uttar Pradesh in the past five years, under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) programme. A total of 130 finfish species were documented from  the  10  designated  sampling  sites  of  the  Ganga  River  in  the  UP  part.  Temporal assessments of the fish diversity in Yamuna, Betwa, and Ken rivers are as under:

| River   |   Base year |   No. of fish species |   No. of fish species in the present study (2025) |
|---------|-------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Yamuna  |        2017 |                   143 |                                                84 |
| Betwa   |        2017 |                    81 |                                                67 |
| Ken     |        2017 |                    89 |                                                66 |
| Saryu   |        2024 |                    51 |                                                84 |
| Rapti   |        2020 |                    27 |                                                59 |

While regulation and control of river pollution fall under the mandate of Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate change (MoEF&CC), the Department of Fisheries, Government of India through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is implementing River Ranching Programme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for conservation and restoration of native fish stocks and sustainable development of riverine fisheries and support livelihoods of fisher communities in the major river system covering 17 States including Uttar Pradesh with technical support from ICAR-Fisheries Research Institutes namely, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) and Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-DCFR).  Further, as regards to Uttar Pradesh, a sum of Rs.8.45 crore has been sanctioned and released under the ongoing PMMSY for ranching of 281.66 lakh fingerlings in the Ganga river and its tributaries and the programme has been successfully implemented.  In addition, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, through National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) is also promoting the concept of State Fish introduced by Indian Council for Agricultural Research- National Bureau  of  Fish  Genetic  Resources  (ICAR-NBFGR),  to  encourages  States  to  adopt  and conserve regionally important fish species, with aim to replenish native fish stocks, restore ecological balance, and raise awareness about species at risk.  At present, 21 aquatic species are  designated  either  as  State  fish,  State  aquatic  animal  or  State  animal.  Besides,  The Department  of  Fisheries,  in  collaboration  with  the  National  Fisheries  Development  Board, Government of Uttar Pradesh and ICAR-CIFRI has made efforts in restoration of the prized native fish species in the Ganga River and as reported by CIFRI, the institute conducted 47 ranching events and released 22.94 lakh fish fingerlings under the Namami Gange project in the last 3 years in different stretches of the River in the UP region. This includes enhancing seed production, improving availability of seeds and formulated feed for farming and adoption of improved farming methods.

(d) PMMSY inter  alia has  provision  for  Livelihood  and  Nutritional  support  for  socioeconomically backward active traditional fishers' families for conservation of fish resources during fishing ban/lean period. Under this component Government assistance is provided @Rs. 3000/per  fisher  and  beneficiaries'  own  contribution  of  Rs.  1500/-  for  three  months  during  fishing ban/lean period. Government of Uttar Pradesh has availed the livelihood and nutritional support to fishers' families during the fishing ban/ lean period activity for 1,000 fishers in the year of 2024-25 only for this activity.

PMMSY also provides insurance coverage to fishers, which includes fish workers, fish farmers and any other categories of persons directly involved in fishing and fisheries related allied activities. The insurance coverage provided under the PMMSY  includes (i) Rs.5,00,000/-  against  accidental  death  or  permanent  total  disability,  (ii)  Rs.2,50,000/-  for permanent partial disability and (iii) hospitalization expenses in the event of accident for a sum of Rs. 25,000/-.

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