Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh jointly inaugurated the regional office of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in Patna on June 15, 2026.
By A Correspondent
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh jointly inaugurated the regional office of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, at the Fisheries Development Bhawan in Mithapur on Monday. The leaders unveiled the plaque and formally opened the facility by cutting the ribbon.
After the inauguration, the Chief Minister inspected the new office and reviewed its arrangements. He also visited an exhibition set up at the venue to showcase developments in the fisheries sector.
Addressing the gathering after lighting the ceremonial lamp, Samrat Choudhary congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Bihar. He said that he had the opportunity to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for three major central government projects in the state on the same day. These included a technology park in Gaya, an integrated aqua park in Bhojpur, and the NFDB regional office in Patna.
He thanked Lalan Singh for consistently advocating for Bihar’s interests at the Centre. The Chief Minister said the Union Minister had assured support in providing low-interest loans to boost fish production in the state, adding that Bihar officials would work towards implementing the proposal.
Highlighting past achievements, Samrat Choudhary said that under the leadership of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar had made progress through initiatives such as the Blue Revolution, White Revolution and agricultural roadmaps. He pointed out that while fish was once scarce in the state, Bihar is now moving towards self-sufficiency, with local fish farmers meeting nearly 95 per cent of demand.
However, he stressed the need to expand further by exporting fish to other regions and countries, including neighbouring Jharkhand and Nepal. He called for the production of high-quality, boneless fish to cater to both domestic and international markets.
The Chief Minister also emphasised increasing fish production in every panchayat and block. He proposed developing rural markets where milk, vegetables and fish could be sold together, ensuring direct benefits to farmers. He added that cooperative societies could play a key role in achieving production targets.
Speaking on governance reforms, Choudhary said that under the “Sahyog” programme, public grievances are being addressed within a fixed timeline. If complaints are not resolved within 30 days, the responsible officials would face suspension. Similarly, he announced that industrial applicants would receive licences automatically if approvals are not granted within 30 days.
Highlighting Bihar’s economic growth, he compared state budgets, noting that while Jharkhand presented a budget of ₹1.39 lakh crore, Bihar’s budget stood at ₹3.17 lakh crore, indicating rapid progress. He described Bihar as a “changed state”, with opportunities opening up across sectors such as industry, defence, semiconductors, tourism and IT.
In a tourism initiative, the Chief Minister announced that from July 15, residents would be able to take helicopter rides over Patna for ₹2,100. Similar aerial tours to Rajgir, Mundeshwari Temple, Tutla Bhawani Temple, nearby waterfalls and Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve would be available for ₹6,000, with partial support from the state government.
He also revealed plans to develop ponds across districts for dual use—fish farming below and solar power generation above.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Cooperation Minister Ramkripal Yadav, Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, and NFDB Chief Executive Dr Vijay Kumar Behera also addressed the gathering. Several senior officials, public representatives and local residents were present at the event.
About the Author
