Distraught by what is alleged to be a gang of smugglers’ poaching fish seed and the possible security threat they pose to Ujani dam, the state water resources department has in a first requested an escort from Pune rural police to its patrol teams to initiate preventive action. It has been claimed that these smugglers not only kill fish seed (matsyabeej), but also poach migratory birds. A letter sent to cops by the department’s executive engineer Pandurang Shelar further said the miscreants cultivate banned exotic African fish like Mangur, destroying local freshwater fish biodiversity. Ujani is the largest lake in western Maharashtra, attached to three districts (Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur), with the highest fresh water fish supply in the state. The lake spreads over 670 km, from Bhimanagar in Solapur to Alegaon village in Daund near Pune. The letter added, Outsiders are fishing illegally inside the lake. We expect police protection under Section 106 of the Maharashtra Irrigation Act, 1976, to take legal action against these culprits. These fishermen use small nets to kill matsyabeej, dry and sell them. They also cultivate banned Mangur fish. As the gangs come from outside the state, they may create a serious security threat. The missive was sent after the department received complaints from local fishing communities and the Maharashtra Machhimar Sangharsh Kruti Samiti. Samiti president Seetaram Nagare shared, We have observed these people fishing at night with banned equipment (small mosquito nets, spears, grenades, etc.). Most are Bangladeshi immigrants. Their activities are causing financial and social harm to local communities like the Mallavs, Bhois, Bhillas, and Pardhis around Bhigwan and Indapur. Samit member Bharat Mallav added, Local co-operative fisheries are already struggling to meet daily expenses due to the absence of fully grown fish in the dam. Armed with weapons, poaching of both fish and birds is making the situation worse. With a huge area to tackle, police are creating no impact. Freshwater species here include rohu, katla, mrigal, prawns, gavtya, maral, chilapi, khadrya, kanas, shiwada, ghogrya and gugali. Small dried fish are in demand in Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, while local consumption here is also prolific. Locals claim smugglers use 4-5 km-long nets (vadaps) or mosquito nets to catch fish seed, and torches and banned javelins to kill Maral at night. It is further alleged that halfboiled rice with chemicals is used to kill or render fish seed unconscious, so that they float to the surface. Grenades are also used to target bigger fish, while poison mixed with fish seed brings down flamingos, grey herons, water hens, white herons, etc. Sometimes, nets harm the birds; modified bamboo net structures and bows and arrows are further utilised to hunt birds. M N Munde, chief engineer of the water resources department, said, We are too short-staffed to handle this. Local authorities are communicating with the police for escorts. District superintendent of police (SP) Suvez Haque said, We have instructed local police to provide an escort to department officials. We will also patrol the area. But, a lack of manpower means we cannot do so round the clock. We cannot protect the entire lake area as this is the responsibility of departments concerned. But, if there is any specific complaint, the so-called smugglers will be booked and arrested as per the law. We also recommend hiring security from the Maharashtra Security Guard Board.