Admn to promote fish culture in Sukhna

The Chandigarh Administration has adopted a three-pronged strategy to save and promote fish culture in Sukhna Lake.

The Chandigarh Administration has adopted a three-pronged strategy to save and promote fish culture in Sukhna Lake. The strategy include containing the overgrowth of weeds in the lake; checking overpopulation of fish to avoid congestion; and banning religious functions at the lake which according to experts pollute water. Unfolding the strategy,Sanjay Kumar,Fisheries-cum-Finance Secretary,said 10 days ago,the Fisheries Department had on an experimental basis introduced 5,000 grass carp – a special weed-eating fish species into the lake.

The growth of weeds beyond the desirable limit consumes most of the oxygen present in the water. With the result,the fish get less supply of oxygen and begin to die. We are keeping a close watch and shall assess the results of the experiment. And,if it clicks,we shall introduce more such fish into the lake, he said.

Grass Carp is a herbivorous,freshwater fish species of the cyprinidae family. Cultivated in China essentially for food,it was introduced in western countries for aquatic weed control. This fish is found in large,turbid rivers and lakes,and enjoys wide degree of temperature tolerance,added Dr AVS Kohli,Joint Director,Animal Husbandry,UT Administration.

The second part of the strategy involves checking overpopulation of fish and reducing congestion in the lake. Last February,the UT Administration had called tenders for catching big fish. The exercise was repeated after 29 years. The last time it was carried out to minimise congestion was in 1981, Dr Kohli disclosed.

Thirdly,acting on the advice of experts,the UT Administration has banned the holding of religious ceremonies at Sukhna Lake. Such ceremonies,experts pointed out,polluted the waters and are not conducive for the growth of fish culture. Now,all religious ceremonies have been shifted to Sector-42 lake, he added.

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sukhna lake