“The state’s fishermen are suffering immense losses owing to the seizure of vested water bodies by private parties. The department is responsible for such unwanted occupancy of water bodies,” said Nanda in a meeting held by the Paschim Banga Rajya Matsyajibi Samiti on Monday.

“If a vested water body is controlled by a private party, the fishermen belonging to Matsyajibi Samiti do not benefit at all,” the minister said.

“A fisherman has to pay 12.5 per cent interest for a loan. For the same amount of loan, a farmer pays just 7 per cent. In this situation, if the vested water bodies are in private hands, where will the fishermen go?” he asked.

Land and Land Reforms Minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah, who was also present at the meeting, was not ready to buy the logic of the fisheries minister. Instead, he accused the fisheries department of showing negligence in setting up control over vested water bodies.