Illegal fishing activities in the Ujani Dam, which is known for its top-quality freshwater fish in the state, have become a significant challenge for the district administration and state irrigation department, say experts and activists in Indapur tehsil.
According to the observers, illegal fishing operations are usually carried out in the dam in the summer, and ‘Chinese nets’ are used for the same. These nets capture small fish, including fish seeds, and destroy potential production, also affecting the overall ecosystem of the 125 TMC dam as well as the authorized fishing economy here.
Last week, irrigation department officials destroyed several such nets — however, activists pointed out that such action is just a temporary measure against a long-standing problem.
“The dam needs a comprehensive action plan against illegal fishermen, who come in large numbers from other states. They carry out fishing day and night in the dam and destroy the ecosystem. It has become a major menace in the last few years. The authorities act against only a few such individuals, but hundreds operate illegally on ground. It has also significantly disturbed local business,” said Sandesh Bhandare, an activist from Indapur.
The dam provides a variety of local fish, including shivda, kolis, gugli and shingta, as well as katla, rohu, and mrigal. Fish lovers from across the state travel to Bhigwan village in Indapur to enjoy these varieties throughout the year.
Fishing has become a massive business in Indapur and Daund tehsil of Pune district as well as neighbouring Madha and Karmala tehsils in Solapur district over the last decade. A shortage of dedicated staff to act against unauthorised operations in this sector has become a major hurdle for the irrigation department, officials admitted.
RP More, executive engineer of the Ujani dam management division, who is in charge of the dam, told TOI, “It is impossible to control this menace due to the lack of staff and required inventory. There are 80 villages in the backwaters, situated some 90km from the wall of the dam. So, it is practically impossible for us to keep a tab on their activities daily.”
To address this issue effectively, the department even recommended to state govt that this management be handed over to the fishery department. Three larger dams in the state are under the irrigation department’s management, including Ujani, said an official. “Our proposal is pending with state govt in this regard for the last few years,” added the official.
More said the department earns around Rs5 lakh in revenue from the dam’s authorized fishing activity. “However, the actual potential is huge. We even tried to float a tender to award a contract to a private player so that we would get proper revenue and there would be control over the fishing activity. But the local organisations opposed us. Now, fishing in the dam remains unorganised,” he explained.
Other officials claimed that locals, who have land close to the dam, have been involved in the illegal fishing business for the last few years. These operators are mainly from Indapur and Daund, while some are from Karmala and Madha, they said.
“The network of these ‘fish mafias’ is very strong as they supply fish to local hotels and restaurants in large quantities throughout the year. They earn a huge amount through this business. It is a big loss to the govt,” said a senior official from the irrigation department.