Nagaland’s first Integrated Aqua Park, currently under construction at Tzudikong in Mokokchung district, is expected to generate about 127 direct jobs and achieve a production capacity of 100 metric tonnes of fish when fully operational, according to Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rongsennungba.
The Rs 42.34 crore project, being developed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is spread across about 52 acres in Tzudikong.
Describing it as the “first of its kind in the state”, Rongsennungba said the facility is expected to support fish farmers through quality inputs, fish seed production, market access and fisheries infrastructure. He said the project is also expected to directly employ 41 skilled and 86 unskilled workers, apart from creating indirect employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.
Er Taribilong, Assistant Engineer, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, told Mokokchung Times that the project aims to strengthen fish farming and increase fish production in Nagaland.
“The aim is to harvest the fish and export it to neighbouring districts and states as well,” he said.
The project includes brood banks, hatcheries, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), biofloc units and facilities designed to support fish farmers. Other planned infrastructure includes a fish feed mill, ice plant, wholesale market complex, aquatic gallery-cum-museum, administrative block, cafeteria, reverse osmosis plant, RCC water tanks, approach roads and electrification works.
Er Taribilong said 54 fish ponds are planned under the project, of which 20 have already been completed.
“We were planning to dig more, but excavation and transportation of materials have slowed during the monsoon season, which usually continues till September to October in the region,” he said.
According to him, around 50 per cent of the project funds have been released and physical progress remains in line with fund utilisation.
“The physical progress is in line with the funds released and it is satisfactory,” he said.
The work order for the project was issued in February 2025 with an initial completion target of one year. However, he said the timeline has been extended through mutual understanding following high-level discussions, taking into account the challenges of construction in hilly terrain and prolonged monsoon conditions.
He cited transportation difficulties, unstable sandy-clay soil conditions in the Tuli area, road construction requirements and extensive site preparation work as among the major hurdles encountered during construction.
“We are constructing new roads and carrying those materials. At the same time, we are cutting down hills and jungle, and only then carrying out excavation work. These processes take longer than expected,” he added.
Despite the challenges, he said the overall progress of the project remains ‘satisfactory’.
Once completed, the Aqua Park is expected to bring fish breeding, fish seed production, feed manufacturing, storage and marketing facilities under one campus, making it the first integrated fisheries facility of its kind in Nagaland.