Pond netting poses danger to exotic birds
Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, November 10
Exotic and migratory species of birds are at risk in the district as fish farmers are using dangerous nets on their fish ponds against the guidelines issued by the state government for protecting and preserving the species.
As per guidelines, farmers are not allowed to use bird net on their fish ponds as these are harmful for the species, but they don’t bother and the practice is prevalent in several villages of the district. Fish farmers do not even hesitate in indulging in scuffles with the teams of the Forest and Wildlife Department, when they are asked to remove the net.
Four such incidents have been reported in the district in the past one week, hence the department has now decided to involve the police in their move to avoid similar situation in villages for ensuring proper execution of guidelines.
Farmers say they use the net to prevent birds from eating fish from their water bodies, while the department says the nets made of plastic ropes are perilous for birds as they get entangled in it.
“These days, our team, comprising wildlife inspector, sub-inspector and guards, are on a special campaign to inspect all ponds in the district and remove the nets as migratory birds of different species from a number of countries have started flocking the region,” said Deepak Alawadhi, divisional wildlife officer, maintaining they were facing a tough task to execute the guidelines.
He said under the campaign, farmers were being made aware not only about the harm being caused to the birds through net, but also about the law enacted to safeguard their freedom. He said the team had so far removed the bird nets from Baland, Kharenthi, Sunaria, Balmbh, Garhi Patwarpur, Kahnaur, Aanval, Nigana, Naunand, Giravar and Atail villages here.
“There is a considerable number of such villages in the district where gram panchayats have leased out ponds to private contractors for fish farming. Our team faced a stiff resistance from them in Girawar, Atail, Kharenthi and Nonand villages while removing the nets from their ponds. Even in Girawar village, the contractor and his men tried to hold our team members hostage, but they managed to escape somehow,” said Alawadhi.
Naresh Kadian, Chief National Commissioner, Scouts and Guides for Birds and Animals, said putting up the net on the ponds was a violation of an advisory issued under Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
