Fishing resumes in Pong reservoir

BOX– A ban was imposed for breeding on June 16 for two months

Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR, AUGUST 16

The fishing in the Pong reservoir in Kangra district resumed on Sunday. A ban was imposed for breeding on June 16 for the two months. The manmade water body is 42-km long and 19-km broad and provides livelihood to 2,800 fishermen.

To check illegal fishing during two the breeding season, the Fisheries Department had deployed a flying squad to keep a tab on illegal fishing in the reservoir. A special patrolling camp was also set up at Nagrota Surian for conducting round-the-clock patrolling around the reservoir. The department teams caught and fined 30 poachers.

The Pong reservoir is producing singhara fish species which contributes to around 60 per cent of the total fish production. It fetches the highest price in the market. Besides, rahu, katla, common carpe and mahaseer are also produced here.

The fishermen remained without work from March 23 to April 20 during the lockdown and the department released Rs 2,000 each for the affected fisherman as compensation.

According to Sat Pal Mehta, Director, Fisheries Department, Bilaspur, the department had put Rs 25 lakh fish seed in the reservoir during the breeding season and 350 tonnes of fish production is being expected. “During the fish breeding season, each fisherman will be paid Rs 1,500 per month as contributory off-season allowance-cum-financial relief. The department is also providing them free accidental insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh to every fisherman and providing quality fishing nets and boats on the subsidised price to them,” he said.

Mehta revealed that the department had also proposed life-saving jackets to them free of cost and tender for the procurement of the jackets had been floated.

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(Photo caption 16nur3p. “The fishermen resumed fishing in the Pong Dam Reservoir on Sunday after two months’ fish breeding ban,” Tribune photo