Check illegal fishing at lake, Forest Dept told

Chandigarh, December 11

After the issue of illegal fishing at Sukhna Lake was highlighted in these columns today, the Department of Fisheries has not only increased vigil at the lake but has also written to the police and the Forest Department to take immediate action to check the illegal practice.

Dr Kanwarjit Singh, Joint Director of the Department of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, said they had intensified the vigil and had written to the Forest Department and the police to check those involved in illegal fishing.

He said an inspector and other employees of the department were always there to keep an eye on anyone indulging in the illegal activity, but the major area of the lake fell under the Forest Department. He said instructions had been issued to he staff to be more careful in the future. He said angling was allowed between 10 am and 4 pm. 

The staff of the department was present during this time to keep tabs on anglers. However, after  that if anybody  was found engaging  in illegal fishing, it was the responsibility of the police  and the  Forest Department  to stop them.

He said angling had been allowed with a view to developing it as a sport and maintaining the ecological balance of the lake.

Today, the department  had issued  passes  to 18 persons  for angling, he said.