Illegal fishing unabated in river Lidder

Employees hand in glove with poachers

                2/25/2016 11:48:23 PM

Saahil Suhail

Early Times Report

Anantnag, Feb 25: Attribute it to the indifferent attitude of authorities, illegal fishing is going on unabated in river Lidder at Yanner in famous tourist resort Pahalgam.

Reports said that poachers involved in the illegal fishing in river Lidder- famous for trout Fish- at Yanner are hand in glove with local employees of Fisheries Department.

They said that poachers mainly hoteliers and hut owners resort to illegal fishing during late evening hours.

"From last over a month, hoteliers and local poachers are catching trout fish from river Lidder at Yanner to sell the same in open market at Batakoot area of Pahalgam," a resident pleading anonymity said.

He revealed that employees and guards of Fisheries department are part of this illegal activity which posing a threat to trout as they are reportedly using chemicals and other illegal equipments for fishing.

They said that river Lidder at Yanner and Movera areas of Pahalgam has became a haven for illegal fish catch. Local residents told Early Times that few influential hoteliers were allegedly paying hefty amounts to locals to catch the trout fishing in the river while as some which run illegally in the area sent their staff to catch the fish for high end tourists and visitors.

"Fisheries department recently raided a hotel and found at least 35kgs of trout fish but instead of seizing the same, employees let him off," residents said.

However, employees claimed that hotelier was fined and weighing machine was seized from the hotel.

An employee posted at Yanner told Early Times that they caught another group of people for illegal fish catch last in the evening.

"Your information was correct.

We held two people late last evening and fined them," he said.

Pertinently, from last over a week this reporter informed higher-ups of the department but no satisfactory action was taken against the people involved in the crime.

Meanwhile, Director Fishries, R K Dogra on being contacted assured that he will look into the matter.

"I will definitely look into the matter," he added.

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