Coimbatore: The serene beauty of Valankulam, Ukkadam Periakulam and Singanallur Lake is a spectacle to behold in the early morning hours on any given day.
Coimbatore: The serene beauty of Valankulam, Ukkadam Periakulam and Singanallur Lake is a spectacle to behold in the early morning hours on any given day.
But the unmistakable presence of about 10 to 15 people fishing on these lakes have become a fixture now. While fishing as a hobby for some is considered to have a calming effect, for some it is a secure means of livelihood. But commercial fishing has been banned in these lakes with the commercial fishing license having expired on December, 2018. Yet, fishermen continue fishing in Ukkadam and Valankulam.
After a High Court order last year which stayed auctioning of water bodies for fishing in Tamil Nadu, authorities did not extend fishing licenses nor issued fresh ones after the licenses expired, last December. According to activists, inland fishing has not only created an imbalance in the ecosystem of the lakes but has also altered the flow of water, in and out of the lakes. Sources claim that in Coimbatore, fishermen who had earlier taken lease to fish in the inland water bodies have gone as far as damaging the inlets and outlets in many lakes, resulting in the contamination of water bodies and the ecosystem of the lakes.
Not heeding the ban that was imposed on commercial fishing in the Singanallur Lake, the contractor who had taken the lake on lease earlier, continues to violate norms by fishing in the lake and selling the fish at the entrance of the lake, completely unperturbed and without any form of guilt at breaking the law.
According to sources, the contract for fishing in the lake had expired on December 31 and it had been decided by the District Administration and Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to not renew the contract to improve the biodiversity of the lake.
Activists claim that lack of regulation from the authorities have allowed fishermen a free rein to violate the law. “The Lake is under the control of CCMC, but the contract is offered by the District Administration and the role of Fisheries Department is entirely different. When the system is so confusing, violations go unchecked,” claimed an activist who urged the State to regulate inland fishing.
Speaking on the issue, a senior CCMC official said, "It is true that license for inland fishing expired in December 2018 but some fishermen continue fishing in these lakes. As far as Singanallur Lake is concerned, fishing is banned. Since the license is issued by the district administration and the lake is maintained by CCMC, people take regulations very lightly. But violators will surely be punished and the CCMC will take up this issue and act according to the provisions of the law," he reiterated.
Fishing on these lakes also poses a threat to local birds as well as migratory birds since these birds are often entrapped in the long fishing nets. Time and again, activists have raised concerns about birds getting caught and the decrease in the number of migratory birds due to indiscriminate fishing.
According to inside sources, the Fisheries Department has submitted a proposal to the District administration regarding granting licenses for fishing. Officials of the Fisheries Department were not available for comment. The only concern of activists is whether the concerned authorities will take appropriate action and implement regulations to completely stop fishing in these lakes.