Pond mgmt authority seeks report about perilous nets on fish ponds

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11 farmers challaned

*The practice is so prevalent that the Forest and Wildlife Department has removed more than 40 such nettings from 25 villages in Jhajjar and Rohtak districts in the past three months

*11 farmers have also been challaned for using these nets on their ponds and a penalty of up to Rs 2,000 has been imposed on them.

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Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, March 5

The Haryana Pond and Waste Water Management Authority (HPWWMA), whose chairman is the Chief Minister, has sought a detailed report within 15 days from District Pond Management Officers (DPMOs) working across the state about the ponds in their area concerned where fishermen are using nets that are proving fatal to birds.

The development came after The Tribune highlighted the issue in these columns on February 24. The news story disclosed that fish farmers are using nylon netting on their ponds which are not allowed as birds get trapped in these, leading to their death.

The practice is so prevalent that the Forest and Wildlife Department has removed more than 40 such nettings from 25 villages in Jhajjar and Rohtak districts in the past three months.

Eleven farmers have also been challaned for using these nets on their ponds and a penalty of up to Rs 2,000 has been imposed on them.

Naresh Kadyan, a nature lover from Siwana village here, had also lodged a complaint with the Beri police station last month demanding an FIR against an operator of a fish pond located on Dubaldhan-Palda road here where he found three migratory birds dead after being entangled in a net used on his pond.

“The police have not yet registered an FIR against the pond operator. I today talked to the investigating officer who replied that the accused has apologised for his act and promised not to use the net again. Hence, the case has not been registered. But I have requested him to register the case as the pond operator has violated the advisory issued under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 for the protection of exotic and migratory species of birds in the state as the netting proves harmful to them,” Kadyan told The Tribune.

Sujana Ram, Member Secretary, HPWWMA, said they were working on issuing an advisory to check the practice of perilous netting on ponds and legal advice was also being taken in this respect. “Action will be taken as per rules on getting the detailed report regarding dangerous nets,” he added.

Caption:

Nylon thread net being used on a pond at a Jhajjar village. File Photo