Kolkata Municipal Corporation Takes Action to Revive and Protect Water Bodies with Fish Farming Initiative

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 7, 2025, Kolkata :  In a significant move to protect Kolkata's dwindling water bodies, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced a new initiative aimed at restoring and cleaning the city's water bodies while also promoting fish farming. This step is being seen as a proactive effort to address the growing concerns over the filling of water bodies and the environmental impact of urbanization and development.

For years, many of Kolkata's water bodies have been filled to make way for residential and commercial buildings, with many high-rise buildings constructed on the land of these once-vibrant water bodies. However, following recent incidents where some of these buildings, constructed over filled water bodies, have fallen, the KMC has decided to take stronger action to protect the environment.

In a bid to reverse this trend, KMC authorities are now mandating the restoration, cleaning, and management of water bodies in the city, including the promotion of fish farming in these areas. The initiative will be carried out in a borough-based manner, with specific actions tailored to each area based on the needs of the respective water bodies.

According to KMC sources, a comprehensive survey has identified over 8,000 water bodies across 144 wards in the city, totaling an area of 1 crore 71 lakh 30 thousand 45 square meters—approximately 8.36% of the total corporation area. This satellite survey, supported by monitoring and photographic evidence, has laid the foundation for the initiative to clean and restore these vital water resources.

One of the most notable steps taken by the authorities is the decision to prevent further filling of water bodies, in line with the West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act of 1993. Under Section 17A of this act, the municipal authorities are empowered to repair and clean polluted or neglected ponds and water bodies, even those in private ownership, if they are deemed to be potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes or environmental hazards.

So far, the KMC has successfully restored and cleaned 310 such ponds and water bodies, and has implemented fish farming in these areas as part of a sustainable approach to maintaining the ecological balance. In cases where mosquitoes are likely to breed, the authorities have worked in collaboration with the health department to clean these water bodies after issuing a notice. A total of 30 water bodies have been cleaned under this specific initiative.

The move has been widely welcomed by environmentalists, local residents, and stakeholders, who have long expressed concerns about the gradual disappearance of wetlands and water bodies due to unchecked urbanization. Many believe that these measures will not only improve the city's ecological health but will also contribute to the overall aesthetic and environmental quality of Kolkata.

With the KMC's renewed focus on water body restoration and the promotion of fish farming, this initiative represents a significant step forward in the city's efforts to protect its natural resources, improve public health, and foster sustainable urban development.