A rather fishy affair to tackle

BANGALORE: If everything goes well, lakes in Bangalore will see more fish very soon. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to withdraw fishing rights from the Fisheries department, so that fish and other species in lake can be conserved.According to a gazette notification dated February 16, 2006, the fishing rights should be given only by the Fisheries Department and not the BBMP.  Deputy Mayor S Harish told City Express  that they are planning to withdraw and keep it for the Palike. “While fishing, many of the rare species were also caught in the net and as a result, they died. There is a need to save them,” he said.The Palike has given 17 of its lakes to the Fisheries department. “We are planning to conserve the beauty of nature too. Fish and other water body species apmlify the beauty of the lake. These fish also attract birds. By catching fishes, we are somehow creating natural imbalance too,” he said. Harish further added that they are placing this proposal in the next Council. “Moreover, with this, the Palike is not getting that good revenue,” he added.Opposition leader Udayshankar finds it ‘fishy’. He objected the deputy mayor’s proposal. “How can deputy mayor give such a statement. He does not have any right to do so. A statement generated by either the mayor or the commissioner might hold importance,” he said.Further, Udayshankar raised a question and asked how the Palike can keep fish and its maintenance to itself, when there are no professional trainers in the BBMP who can handle fish.In between, official sources from the BBMP alleged that for the past three years, illegal fishing has been taking place in the lake. ‘‘Although the lake was handed over to the Fisheries department, illegal fishing was a common phenomenon. Atleast 100 kilos of fish is being caught on a regular basis. Some of the BBMP officials are hand -in-glove with the fishermen,” a senior official, who preferred anonymity remarked. The official further said that now, when the Palike is planning to withdraw, there is a need to check illegal fishing that is causing loss to Palike.