Caught in a bureaucratic net, residents of Nagri village in Raisen district are striving to protect their fish stock.
On one hand, the fisheries department has granted locals the right to engage in fish farming within the Chiklod dam. However, when amid rising water level due to incessant rain and increased risk of fish being swept away with water, a villager attempted to install a net to safeguard the fish, he was stopped by the water resources department (WRD). The official said that the net could potentially damage the dam once the water rises.
The villagers involved in fish farming argue that the net poses no hindrance to the water flow and serves solely to contain the fish. In response, WRD informed the villagers that if the fisheries department provides written assurance that there are no issues, then they too would grant the permission.
The villagers are deeply concerned that this predicament may result in significant losses of their fish stock. They have been actively pursuing a resolution by reaching out to both the departments, to find a mutually agreeable solution.
The fisheries department, which initially granted the villagers permission to engage in fish farming within the Chiklod dam, has said that they have no policy to help the villagers in such a situation.
“We have no policy to handle such a situation. Villagers will have to bear the loss,” said Raisen district officer of fisheries department, SD Nagle. He admitted that the villagers should have been informed of such a situation when the permission for fisheries was granted.
Several fishermen, who have been actively involved in fisheries for the past several decades in Bhopal, said that they have never received any such order which hinders their activity. “I have been using nets for the past several years in various water bodies like Lower Lake and others to stop the flow of fishes into the other water body. I have never seen any problem from anyone,” said Mukesh Batham, a resident of Old Bhopal.
WRD, meanwhile, has reiterated its stance that the installation of nets could potentially damage the dam. They have emphasized the need to prioritize the structural integrity of the dam, as it serves a crucial role in water management and irrigation for the surrounding areas.
“We have strict instructions to not allow installation of nets anywhere which could stop the flow of the water,” said WRD senior official Pratibha Singh, posted in Raisen. She even suggested that the villagers should not get involved in fisheries during rains. When asked about providing any such letters to this effect, she said, “I will let you know later.” However, she never called back.
The villagers have been actively engaging with both departments, explaining the importance of fish farming to their livelihoods and the potential economic impact of losing their fish stock. They have also proposed alternative solutions, such as using specially designed nets that minimize any risk of damage to the dam while still effectively containing the fish.
Villagers have emphasized the need for timely action, as the rising water level poses an immediate threat to their fish stock. Locals have also highlighted the importance of inter-departmental cooperation and communication in addressing such issues, as the lack of coordination between the fisheries department and WRD has contributed to the current impasse.