Carp fish outnumbers the native species, Govt fails to translocate

Mansar, Surinsar lakes dying slow death

JAMMU: The famous lakes of Jammu--Mansar and Surinsar have been dying slow death as the government has failed to initiate process of translocation of carp fish, which has outnumbered the native species as well as damaged the fauna and flora in the lakes.

Authorities have miserably failed to preserve and improve its aquatic diversity, both the fauna and flora despite the clear directions of the government. The Carp fish, which is not native to the lake, was introduced in 1996 after thousands of indigenous freshwater species died due to a mysterious disease.

“The original fish species died due to pouring of sewerage water in the lake. To cover up the lapses under whose control lake was, they sought direction from the Fishery department and introduced the Carp fish,” an environmentalist Bushan Parimoo told The News Now.

“Being omnivorous in nature, the Carp fish has wiped out jelly fish and also damaged the aquatic flora,” he said.

“The role of freshwater flora and Fauna in nature is of very vital importance. Photosynthesizing plants serve as a primary link in the food chains of all aquatic organisms,” he added.

Citing the reason the villagers have great reverence for the water body considered as the abode of Shehsnag, a mythical creature mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts, the authorities have adopted casual attitude to take initiative for preserving precious lakes in Jammu.

The government had passed clear directions to Wildlife Department and Tourism Department to initiate the process of translocation of crap fish to other water bodies within one week. The directions were passed in a meeting held under the chairmanship of one of the Advisors of Governor Satya Pal Malik at Civil Secretariat in Jammu, on 22 2019, regarding the complaint lodged before Jammu and Kashmir Accountability commission.

“As per the reports of fisheries department the common Carp fish is the dominant fish species in the Mansar and Surinsar lake. The fisheries department has recommended commercial activity, thinning/ harvesting of fishes, control excess feeding to fishes but was reluctant to translocate the excess fishes because of the religious sentiments of the local,” Chief Wildlife Warden briefed the Advisor.

The Advisor issued direction to the Wildlife Department and Tourism Department to hold meetings with religious communities and local stakeholders of the area and initiate the process of translocation of crap fish to other water bodies within one week involving local NGOs and further directed to put sign boards for discouraging artificial feeding by tourists.

Mansar Lake is deepest fresh waters lake in the entire sub continent followed by its sister Surinsar. These two lakes are of coexisting nature but Mansar Lake has been host to Jelly fish and Turtle, which are dwindling now due to lackadaisical approach of the government.